NCJ Number
140323
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1992) Pages: 137-150
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
While the comparative approach to the study of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice can offer new information on innovations and successful programs for each respective country to consider, in this introduction to a special issue on comparative juvenile delinquency, the author notes that valid theories or programs may be limited to the population for which they were designed.
Abstract
Cross-cultural comparisons may also be restricted by linguistic problems, cultural concepts, different parameters of illegal behavior, different definitions of delinquency, and different ages of majority. However, in all circumstances, researchers and policymakers must differentiate between juvenile and adult offenders for several reasons: juvenile behavior is not readily explainable by theories of criminal behavior, juveniles may have contact with the criminal justice system because of a wide range of behaviors and victimization situations, most juveniles are not committed to a life of criminal behavior, and juveniles are more likely to be amenable to treatment than adults. The authors of articles included in this special issue have pointed out the lack of reliable and valid information regarding juvenile offenders and emphasized the need to collect more data on delinquent behaviors and on the institutional responses to those behaviors.