Juvenile Delinquency Guidelines: Improving Court Practice in Juvenile Delinquency Cases

The JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES, published in Summer 2005, is a benchbook of best practices that was developed by a committee of judges, a Chief Justice, prosecutors, defense attorneys, juvenile justice practitioners, and other professionals representing key stakeholders in the juvenile justice system, through the support of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

In an effort to set forth the essential elements of effective practice in juvenile delinquency cases, the publication identifies 16 key principles for juvenile delinquency courts, as well as recommended best practices throughout the juvenile delinquency court process – from determining whether a case should in fact enter the system, to whether the youth should remain under juvenile court jurisdiction or be transferred to criminal court, and to post-disposition review of the reentry process when the youth returns to the community. The document will be instrumental in assisting the nation’s current juvenile justice systems to plan for improvement and change.

The JUVENILE DELINQUENCY GUIDELINES can be downloaded below (click on "read more.") You can order a printed copy ($35) through our online store by clicking here, or contact us at JDG@ncjfcj.org or by phone at (775) 784-6012.