LOVE AND THE AMERICAN DELINQUENT - THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF 'PROGRESSIVE' JUVENILE JUSTICE, 1825-1920

• NCJ Number: 44008
• Author(s): S L SCHLOSSMAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 315 pages
• Sale Source: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ORIGINS AND MEANING OF AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENTS ARE REEXAMINED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LEGAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL HISTORY.

Abstract

UNPUBLISHED TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND STATISTICAL DATA FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE MILWAUKEE JUVENILE COURT FORM THE BASIS OF THE ARGUMENT THAT 'AFFECTIONAL DISCIPLINE' FAILED TO SUFFICIENTLY IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. EXCERPTS FROM VERBATIM COURTROOM TESTIMONY OFFER AN INTIMATE VIEW OF THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AND INSIGHT INTO THE PERSONALITIES OF THOSE INVOLVED. THE PORTRAIT OF HOW 'PROGRESSIVE' INSTITUTIONS REALLY WORKED CHALLENGES THE WIDELY HELD BELIEF THAT THERE WAS ONCE A HEYDAY OF 'PROGRESSIVE' JUVENILE JUSTICE WHEN DELINQUENTS WERE HUMANELY AND SUCCESSFULLY TREATED. THE AUTHOR ALSO REFUTES THE CONVENTIONAL ASSUMPTION THAT THE JUVENILE COURT MOVEMENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY 'PROGRESSIVE' IDEAS. A REAPPRAISAL OF THE RISE OF THE JUVENILE COURT IS PRESENTED BY FOCUSING ON TWO NEGLECTED INSTITUTIONS, THE FAMILY REFORM SCHOOL AND PROBATION. SUPPORTING DATA, NOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)