Offenders in Criminal and Juvenile Courts - A Comparison of Charging and Sentencing Practices

Data were collected from the prosecutor's files on offense and offender characteristics, highest degree at intake and conviction, and type and length of sentence. Multiple regression analysis indicated little difference between the two courts with respect to charging practices, but the court variable played a substantial role in sentencing practices. With offense seriousness, race, and number of convictions held constant, it was found that greater severity was exercised against criminal court defendants than juvenile court defendants with respect to the decision to incarcerate. In separate analyses, sentence decisions of the juvenile court exhibited higher associations with rated offense seriousness than did those of the criminal court. Implications for juvenile justice policy and sentencing reform are discussed. Supplemental research data, facsimile questionnaires, and approximately 170 references.