AN ACCOUNTING PLAN FOR JUVENILE PROBATION.

This article discusses an accounting plan for juvenile probation in the U.S. The almost complete lack of uniform, accurate information relating to the work of juvenile courts and juvenile probation departments has been a matter of general concern for many years. The need for accurate knowledge relating to juvenile delinquency and to the responsible administrative work carried on by courts and probation departments is evident. In California, the responsibility for collecting criminal statistics has been centralized since 1945 in a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1947, a pilot study was inaugurated by the Bureau in an attempt to collect data relating to the operation of juvenile divisions of certain probation departments and juvenile courts. The principal features of the juvenile probation reporting program are categorized in groups such as classification of active cases by status groupings and case reportings. A problem related to method of count is that pertaining to the type of juvenile matters which should properly be included. This determination is not a simple one. The juvenile probation function includes not only the customary supervisory duties and the responsibility for making investigations that are specifically requested by the courts, but the operation is also extended to embrace many unofficial and sometimes unrelated welfare activities and courtesy services.