Citation

Cooley VA. Crim. Justice Policy Rev. 2011; 22(1): 65-89.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0887403410369826

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Graduated sanctions are a key feature of state juvenile justice policy. Federal funding is contingent on state adoption of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders. Despite widespread utilization, limited information exists regarding the implementation or effects of graduated sanctions for juveniles. Nationally, approximately 90% of delinquent youth are supervised in local communities, so a system of graduated sanctions depends on local efforts to develop and sustain a continuum of sanctions and services. North Carolina is one of many states that enacted juvenile justice reforms based on a graduated sanctions model. Using data from 93 counties, the local implementation of sanctions was examined and compared to an idealized state model. Factors affecting policy implementation were identified. Most counties did not have full implementation of sanctions continuum. Counties with fewer financial resources showed lower implementation levels, but regression analysis indicated that political factors had the greatest effect on policy implementation.