NCJ Number
1859
Date Published
1969
Length
230 pages
Annotation
AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE SOCIAL BASIS OF HUMANITARIAN IDEAS AND TO RECONCILE THE INTENTIONS OF CHILD SAVERS WITH THE INSTITUTIONS THEY HELPED TO CREATE.
Abstract
NEW CATEGORIES OF YOUTHFUL MISBEHAVIOR, INVENTED BY CHILD THE 'CHILD SAVING' MOVEMENT OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF THESE LATE 19TH CENTURY, BY CALLING FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF MANY OF THE PROGRAMS THEY SUPPORTED ACTUALLY DIMINISHED CIVIL LIBERTIES OF YOUTH, THEREBY AGGRAVATING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE. THIS WORK EXAMINES THE CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORIES THAT INFLUENCED THE CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT AND THEN COVERS INSTITUTIONALIZED MEANS BY WHICH REFORMERS ATTEMPTED TO REHABILITATE DELINQUENT YOUTHS. THE MOTIVES, CLASS INTERESTS, ASPIRATIONS, AND PURPOSES OF VARIOUS CHILD-SAVING ORGANIZATIONS ARE DELINEATED, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION DEVOTED TO TWO KEY WOMEN IN THE MOVEMENT. AFTER DESCRIBING ITS ORIGIN IN ILLINOIS, THE AUTHOR FOCUSES ON THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM'S DEVELOPMENT SINCE THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. THIS WORK ANALYZES SEVERAL OF THE IDEOLOGICAL ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST THE MOVEMENT AND COVERS THE LEGISLATIVE REFORMS ENACTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE JUVENILE'S RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS AND A FAIR TRIAL. THE CHILD SAVERS SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO THOSE WORKING WITH YOUTH IN THE AREAS OF REHABILITATION AND THE JUVENILE COURT. (SNI ABSTRACT)