NCJ Number
99489
Editor(s)
R A Weisheit,
R G Culbertson
Date Published
1985
Length
200 pages
Annotation
This supplemental text for undergraduate courses in juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice contains 15 articles which cover the conflicting philosophies underlying the juvenile system; current knowledge about status offenders and violent juvenile offenders; the impact of school, home, and biochemical factors on delinquency; and major policy issues.
Abstract
Papers in the first section focus on the juvenile system, identifying competing and conflicting ideological perspectives, examining opposing views on status offenders, and assessing the impact of reforms on juveniles arrested as violent offenders. The text moves to causes of delinquency, documenting the link between nutrition and behavioral problems and arguing that the family might be the most important influence in the delinquency process. Also examined is the school's role in perpetuating delinquency. Papers which focus on juveniles in the system discuss police responses to juvenile misconduct and criticize diversion programs. Another paper describes a participant observation study of a juvenile court and its compliance with the right to due process. The next section addresses juveniles in confinement from three perspectives: the incidence of youth suicide in adult jails and lockups and juvenile detention centers; the treatment of violent, incorrigible adolescents; and inmate victimization within a juvenile institution. The last group of papers concern policy issues, including the Federal Government's role in juvenile justice policy, the incarceration versus rehabilitation debate, research weaknesses and problems and future trends. References accompany most articles. Section summaries are provided. For individual papers, see NCJ 99490-99504.