University of Chicago Press, 1968. The Juvenile Justice System is designed to familiarize you with the past and present organizations, processes, and actors that have shaped and currently constitute our American Juvenile Justice System. This course will not only look at the traditional issue of delinquency and theories of its causation, but it will also focus in-depth on the juvenile justice system and its components. Throughout the course we will examine several sub-themes and controversies currently impacting the system including the issues of female delinquency, restorative justice, school violence, drug usage among juvenile offenders, and alternatives to youth incarceration. We will explore some of the important and troubling issues that are faced and resolved by juvenile justice practitioners as they function within this imperfect system.
Current trends indicate that juveniles are committing serious crimes at increasingly earlier ages.
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the American juvenile justice system and its practices. More importantly, the goal is to encourage critical thinking on your part about the origin, function, and purposes of our juvenile justice system. Be familiar with the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding juvenile rights and the operation of the juvenile court. Apply theories of delinquency to delinquent acts. Critically assess various interventions for juveniles, including diversion, community treatments, and institutional treatments.