Parents' Experiences with the Juvenile Justice System

Sara Goodkind
School of Social Work
University of Michigan
1080 S. University
Ann Arbor MI 48109-1106
(734) 647-0520
FAX: (734) 615-3192
sgoodkin@umich.edu
 
Rosemary Sarri
Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
426 Thompson St.
Ann Arbor MI 48106-1248
(734) 763-5611
FAX: (734) 764-3341
rcsarri@umich.edu
 
Francine Farmer
Wayne County Department of Community Justice
640 Temple, Suite 701
Detroit MI 48201
(313) 833-3467
farmer.francine.b@usa.net
Purpose:  Little is known about parents' perspectives and experiences in navigating the juvenile justice system.  The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of parents' experiences with the juvenile justice system in order to better meet their service needs and facilitate their voice in the process.
 
Methods:  This paper reports findings from interviews with 67 parents of young people (49 male and 18 female) in the juvenile justice system in Michigan.  Interviews were done in the parents' homes and gathered information on demographic characteristics, family relationships, housing, employment, welfare, social service use and needs, the young people's behavior and activities, and parents' experiences with the juvenile justice system.  Pathways through the system were traced in discussion with parents and court data was collected on the youth whose parents were interviewed.
 
Results:  Parents reported needing multiple types of assistance before their children's involvement with the juvenile justice system; however, most did not receive help.  Over half of the parents interviewed initially filed incorrigibility, indicating that they turned to the juvenile court as a last resort when other services were not available.  Of these, over half reported that they would not have filed incorrigibility had they been offered intensive community services.  Subsequently, many youth, particularly males, committed more serious offenses.  Further, parents were dissatisfied with the services received in the juvenile justice system, with over two-thirds reporting both that the services were insufficient and that they did not have a say in the decisions made regarding their child.
 
Implications for Practice:  Findings indicate a need for direct involvement of parents in decision making regarding services for their children, as well as for additional services, so that parents will not have to turn to the juvenile justice system to receive assistance and young people will not escalate without needed services.