NCJ Number
7307
Date Published
1968
Length
482 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND DETERMINANTS OF COURT RESPONSE TO DEVIANT JUVENILE BEHAVIOR, AND THE DIFFERENT CAREER LINES WHICH DELINQUENTS FOLLOW IN CONTACTS WITH THE COURT.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR FIRST ANALYZES THE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION OF THE JUVENILE COURT AND THE NATURE AND CONSEQUENCES OF ITS RELATIONS WITH VARIOUS OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS. HE THEN TURNS SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROBLEM OF HOW THE COURT DEALS WITH THE PARTICULAR CASES BROUGHT TO ITS ATTENTION, A PROCESS BEGINNING WITH THE FORMAL LABELING OF A DELINQUENT AND LEADING TO DIFFERENT CAREER LINES AS THIS LABEL IS FIXED AND GIVEN SOCIAL CONTENT. LOOKING AT THE FIRST STAGES OF THE CHILD'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE COURT, IT IS ARGUED THAT THE COURT INITIALLY RESPONDS TO CASES BY DISTINGUISHING THOSE WHERE TROUBLE IS IDENTIFIED FROM THOSE THAT ARE NORMAL AND ROUTINE. THE AUTHOR THEN CONTENDS THAT THIS CATEGORIZATION IS NOT MADE ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE OR GUILT, BUT ON THE BASIS OF MORAL CHARACTER. THREE CLASSES OF MORAL CHARACTER ARE DISTINGUISHED. NORMAL, CRIMINAL, AND DISTURBED. ANALYSIS IS CENTERED ON THE WAYS IN WHICH THESE TYPICAL DELINQUENCIES, IMPLYING DIFFERENT KINDS OF ACTORS, ARE ESTABLISHED BY THE COURT DURING FORMAL HEARINGS AND THROUGH CONTACTS WITH PROBATION OFFICERS AND THE COURT CLINIC.