Victim Assistance in the Juvenile Justice System: A Resource Manual.

Source: (1996) Washington, DC: US Dept of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime.

This manual presents information on the prevalence and nature of juvenile delinquency, the characteristics of victims of juvenile offenders, the impact of juvenile crime on its victims, victim rights and services in the juvenile justice system, and crucial victim rights in the restorative community justice model. The text details variation in definitions of juveniles; the amount of crime caused by juveniles; the characteristics of juvenile and adult victims; the financial, physical, emotional, and social injuries to victims; and the unique issues involved in victimization by juvenile offenders. Further sections explain the differences between the juvenile justice system and the criminal system, major issues such as confidentiality and case processing, public perceptions of juvenile justice, significant legislation regarding victims rights in the juvenile justice system, significant case law interpreting the legislation, and proposals for changing the juvenile justice system. Another section proposes a program model for juvenile justice victim services, to include crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy, support during investigation, support during prosecution, and support after case disposition. A discussion of restorative community justice explains its principles of offender accountability, victim restoration, and community responsibility and examines issues related to victim rights in this model. Abstract courtesy of National criminal Justice Reference Service, www.ncjrs.org.