NCJ Number
94472
Date Published
1978
Length
290 pages
Annotation
Intended for use by both juvenile justice professionals and laypersons, this working text discusses the legal and social aspects of juvenile delinquency.
Abstract
An historical overview of changes in approaches to the control of youthful behavior considers the early history of children's rights and social control, the founding of the juvenile court, the concept of parens patriae and associated problems, and attacks on the juvenile court concept. A chapter on the classification of juvenile offenders focuses on the complexity of classifying delinquent behavior, dangers in the labeling process, and classification under the medical and legal models. Following a review of theories of delinquency causes, attention is given to various developmental factors and their influences on delinquency (early childhood trauma, adolescent conflicts, peer group influences, and adolescent emancipation). A chapter is devoted to the multiple-problem family and the high-risk child, and the patterns and causes of affluent and suburban delinquency are discussed. Chapters are also given to the impact of the drug 'scene' on juveniles as well as alcohol abuse, the relation of juvenile sex to delinquency, and the association of schools with delinquency. Other topics given major consideration are juvenile delinquency prevention and diversion, the juvenile court process and problems associated with it, secure detention and the jailing of juveniles, goals and practice in a time of conflict and change, and juvenile institutions and alternatives to them. Appendixes present the constitutional rights of juveniles and selected standards from 'The Manual of Standards for Juvenile Detention Facilities and Services.' About 150 bibliographic listings are provided along with a subject index.