The literature which addresses the treatment and disposition of juvenile offenders thoroughly establishes the prevalence of racial bias. Though research is abundant regarding racial bias in both the mental health field and in the juvenile justice system, little exists which examines whether the two combine to contribute to the disproportionate percentage of minority offenders in the justice system. This paper examines this possible contribution. It is hypothesized that both probation officers and mental health professionals employ racial discrimination in dispositional recommendations leading to recommendations for the incarceration of black offenders although white offenders with identical characteristics are recommended for placement in mental health treatment facilities. A log-linear model for single-response qualitative data was modified to a 2 x 2 chi-square analysis due to the low number of referrals to detention which would not allow an evaluation of interactions between the variables. Utilizing a chi-square analysis, statistical significance was not met. Possible reasons for these findings and implications for research are addressed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This thesis reports on the first empirical study of the volunteer appropriate adult service for young suspects and the first attempt to determine the extent and nature of volunteer appropriate adult provision nationally. The investigation provides an original insight into the philosophy, role, practice and co-ordination of the appropriate adult. At an empirical level, the investigation fills a gap in the current work on the appropriate adult by considering the use of volunteers in the role, in terms of their practice and co-ordination and the extent and nature of their use. The empirical research is based on a detailed case study of the Plymouth Youth Enquiry Service (henceforth YES) volunteer appropriate adult service and a national survey of YOT managers. The case study included participant observation, documentary analysis and a self-administered questionnaire survey at the YES volunteer appropriate adult service. The national study of YOT managers was based on a postal survey. At a theoretical level, this thesis uses theoretical perspectives from the fields of youth justice (for example, Brown, 1998; Muncie, 1999a) and criminal process (for example, Packer, 1968; McBarnet, 1981; Choongh, 1997) to explain the philosophy, role and practice of the appropriate adult. It argues that role has been constructed to serve different, and sometimes conflicting, purposes, ranging from due process, crime control, welfare, crime prevention and managerialism. In terms of practice, parents rarely contribute in interviews and, when they do, their contributions tend to be consistent with the crime control model. Social workers may act according to a welfare or control ideology. The volunteer's role has included elements of due process, crime prevention and welfare.

Community service as an alternative to imprisonment at its inception was taken up very strongly by the judiciary as part of the reform of the criminal justice system in Uganda. The successful enactment of the Community Service Act, Act no: 5/2000, was an achievement towards the implementation of the programme in the country. However, its implementation as an alternative sentence is currently proceeding at a slow pace. The Ugandan law still allows courts to exercise their discretionary powers with regard to either using prison sentences or community service. Courts still seem to prefer to use imprisonment irrespective of the nature of the offence, thus leading to unwarranted government expenditure and prison overcrowding. An additional problem is that some offenders come out of prison having been negatively affected by their interaction with even more serious offenders. This study was undertaken to establish whether community service as an alternative to imprisonment can be effective with regard to reducing recidivism and to accelerating reconciliation and reintegration of minor offenders back into their communities.

Thesis (MPsy(Forensic))--University of South Australia, 2002.

No description available.

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Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2005. Graduate Programme in Interdisciplinary Studies. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 165-175). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1299814341&SrchMode=1&sid=16&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1195573096&clientId=5220

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 252-271). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 284-303). Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A.(Hons.))--Griffith University, 2003. / Title from title page of document; viewed 1/5/2007. "October 2003" Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83).