Abstract
This is an attempt to provide conceptual clarity to the community protection component of Pennsylvania’s restorative justice enterprise. After a brief background of the legislative changes to Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system and the theoretical development of restorative justice, data from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are utilized to define and measure what is meant by community protection.
Notes
1. Pennsylvania is a county, not state, based system so this process can vary from county to county.
2. In Pennsylvania a juvenile is a youth between 10 and 18 years of age.
3. Direct file offenses in Pennsylvania are murder, rape, aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, aggravated indecent assault, kidnapping, voluntary manslaughter, and the attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above offenses.
4. These are the only years for which this data are available.
5. Pennsylvania retains jurisdiction over juvenile delinquents until their 21st birthday.
6. Data are not available for 2004–2006.