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CRJS 109 Juvenile Justice This course will provide the student with an analytical look at the history, current trends and theoretical approaches to the broad concept of juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. Emphasis will be on the United State Supreme Court decisions and how these decisions molded the way for our current juvenile justice system. Students will also look at the various controversies surrounding the issues of juvenile delinquency, especially on the treatment of delinquency in our society. Modern conceptions of Juvenile Justice are captured by four main themes. First, children should not be held accountable or liable in the same way as adults given their minority status (defined as under 18 years of age in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania). Second, the philosophy guiding the juvenile justice system should be one of providing assistance, treatment, and/or rehabilitation. Third, the individualized needs and/or circumstances of a child should dictate an appropriate disposition and, moreover, every effort should be expended to maintain the integrity of the family. Finally, to the greatest extent possible, the juvenile justice system should be non-adversarial, non-punitive, and informal. Procedural rules, therefore, should be capable of relaxation in order to accommodate the differing needs of the juvenile offender. Juvenile
Justice: An Introduction, Third Edition; 1999 John T. Whitehead
& Steven P. Lab, Anderson Publishing |