NCJ Number
47012
Editor(s)
B KRISBERG,
J AUSTIN
Date Published
1978
Length
598 pages
Annotation
TRADITIONAL EXPLANATIONS AND THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ARE REVIEWED AND ALTERNATIVE HYPOTHESES PROPOSED, ALONG WITH HISTORICAL INSIGHTS INTO FACTORS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
INTENDED TO CHALLENGE STUDENTS TO CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT JUVENILE JUSTICE, THIS COLLECTION OF WRITINGS USES A MIXED FORMAT OF READINGS AND NARRATIVE TO EXAMINE THE THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE INFORMATION IS ORGANIZED WITHIN A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK THAT INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF THE ETIOLOGY OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, AS WELL AS EXAMINATIONS OF PUBLIC POLICY. AN EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE IS PRESENTED IN ONE CHAPTER, AND THROUGHOUT THE TEXT THE INTERRELATION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE IS A PRINCIPAL FOCUS. SUBSEQUENT TO SHARP CRITICISM OF THE CONTEMPORARY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, ALTERNATIVES TO CURRENT PRACTICE ARE DELINEATED. THE OVERALL EFFORT IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE CONSTRUCTIVE REFORM. IN ADDITION TO A DISCUSSION OF THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE CONTEMPORARY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND AN EXAMINATION OF THEORIES ABOUT THE CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, SOCIAL REACTION TO DELINQUENCY IS CONSIDERED AND TREATMENT APPROACHES ARE EVALUATED. STATUS OFFENDERS, PARTICULARLY FEMALES, ARE CONSIDERED. TWO CHAPTERS TREAT DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND SOCIAL POLICY AND THE AMBIGUITY OF SOCIAL REFORM. NOTES FOLLOW EACH PAPER. AN INDEX IS INCLUDED. FOR SELECTED READINGS, SEE NCJ-16180, 18983, 37181, 47013-47022. (RCB)