NCJ Number
97523
Date Published
1985
Length
138 pages
Annotation
This dissertation defines juvenile delinquency, discusses reasons that juveniles misbehave, reviews the legal rights of juveniles and the procedures of juvenile court, and addresses methods of preventing delinquency.
Abstract
The question of whether juveniles are becoming more delinquent is addressed, and the crimes for which juveniles are most often arrested are highlighted. Reasons why arrests are not a good indicator of crime are detailed -- for example, many crimes are not reported to the police -- and self-report studies are discussed as an alternative way of measuring delinquency. The classical school of thought, which holds that human behavior is a product of free will, and the positive school, which holds that human behavior is determined by external and internal influences, are analyzed. Further, biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of behavior are reviewed. The crime control, rehabilitative, and due process models of juvenile justice are described, and ways that juveniles come into contact with the justice system are indicated. Additionally, legal rights of juveniles are discussed, and U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding juveniles are discussed, including Kent v. United States, in re Gault, and McKeiver v. Pennsylvania. Alternatives in adjudication, including referral to juvenile conference committees, are reviewed, and factors in juvenile dispositions, including seriousness of the offense, are outlined. Finally, ways to prevent delinquency are examined, and the need for prevention programs to be based on specific causes of delinquency is cited. Approximately 100 references, 10 tables, and an index are included.