Decision-Making in the Juvenile Justice System in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, 1999-2000

The goals of the juvenile justice system in the United States have always been multiple, beginning with rehabilitation, the primary goal when the juvenile court was established. More recently, policies advocating accountability seem to have predominated over other goals of the court, and concern exists that structured decision-making (SDM) in support of individual accountability has begun to fundamentally change the juvenile justice system. This study examined the use of SDM in state correctional agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio and in juvenile courts in three counties in each of those states. Data were collected in phases from March 1999 to August 2000 during periodic site visits. Probation officers, judges and referees, prosecutors, and defense attorneys were interviewed in each of the 12 courts. Each survey contained a core set of questions eliciting respondents' views of juvenile justice, disposition objectives, and the use and value of SDM. Questions relevant to particular decision-makers were also included. All respondents provided demographic information and information about their job experience in criminal justice and professional training.

美国少年司法体系的目标素来多元，其发轫于少年法院设立之初的核心目标——康复（Rehabilitation）。近年来，倡导问责制（Accountability）的政策似乎已凌驾于法院的其他目标之上，而一种担忧渐生：为支持个体问责制而采用的结构化决策制定（Structured Decision-Making, SDM）正开始从根本上改变少年司法体系。

本研究考察了伊利诺伊州、印第安纳州、密歇根州及俄亥俄州的州级矫正机构，以及上述各州内3个县的少年法院中SDM的使用情况。数据于1999年3月至2000年8月期间通过定期实地访问分阶段收集。

在12个法院中，缓刑官、法官与裁判官、检察官及辩护律师均接受了访谈。

每份调查问卷包含一组核心问题，旨在了解受访者对少年司法、处置目标及SDM使用价值的看法；此外，问卷还纳入了与特定决策者相关的问题。所有受访者均提供了人口统计信息，以及其在刑事司法领域的工作经验与专业培训背景信息。