Juvenile Justice Theory and Practice

Over several hundred years, the juvenile justice system has evolved from one in which a child offender was prosecuted under the same guidelines used for adults to the current system in which society has recognized the unique status of juveniles within the criminal justice framework. Written by world-renowned legal scholar Cliff Roberson, Juvenile Justice: Theory and Practice provides a comprehensive overview of the system that administers the prosecution of young offenders. It examines how the juvenile justice system began, its current state, and the direction it appears to be heading. Topics discussed include: Types of juvenile delinquency cases, arrest statistics, juvenile justice organizations, and the concept of judicial waiver The history of juvenile courts, including the parens patriae doctrine, early laws, In re Gault, and concepts of reform versus punishment Delinquency causation philosophies, including social, cultural deviance, symbolic interactionist, and psychological theories Types of abuse and neglect, child protective services, and child abuse prevention programs Law enforcement agencies, the structure of juvenile courts, juvenile court procedures, transfers to criminal court, and the concept of individual rights Juvenile probation and parole, juvenile institutions, group homes, boot camps, and shock programs Selected issues in juvenile justice, including drug abuse, juvenile sex offenders, and youth gangs The book cites actual court cases to demonstrate concepts, provides review questions at the end of each chapter, and includes a glossary of relevant terms. A concise and practical text on juvenile justice, this volume facilitates understanding of this complex and critical subject.

An Overview of Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Justice DefinedJuvenile Court AuthorityMeasuring DelinquencySerious Violent Crimes by JuvenilesNonviolent CrimesJuvenile Justice OrganizationsJudicial WaiverDevelopment of Juvenile CourtsChildhoodparens patriaeEarly LawsDevelopment of Juvenile Courts in the United StatesJuvenile Justice and the Supreme CourtPunish or ReformDelinquency Causation TheoriesBasic Assumptions of Delinquent BehaviorExplaining Juvenile DelinquencyClassical SchoolPositivist SchoolSocial TheoriesSocial Control TheoriesCultural Deviance TheoriesSubculturalSocial Disorganization TheoriesSymbolic Interactionist TheoriesBiological TheoriesPsychological TheoriesSchoolsMale DelinquencyAbused and Neglected ChildrenTypes of AbuseNature of the ProblemsFamily InfluencesNeglected ChildrenChild AbuseMissing ChildrenChild Protective ServicesLaw Enforcement and JuvenilesHistorical OverviewStructure of AgenciesConsequences of ArrestDisposition of YouthsJuveniles’ Attitudes toward Law EnforcementCommunity PolicingCurfewsCourts in the Juvenile Justice SystemPhilosophyOrganizational Structures of Juvenile CourtsJurisdictionJurisdictional Responsibilities of Juvenile CourtsStructureActors in Juvenile CourtRights of Juveniles and ParentsOverview of the Procedures in Juvenile CourtOpening a CaseTemporary Custody of the JuvenilePetition to Juvenile CourtJurisdiction HearingDisposition HearingPostdisposition HearingDirect Filing in Adult Criminal CourtWaiver/transfer HearingProcedures in Juvenile CourtDelinquency CasesDetention HearingsCitationVenueJurisdiction or Intake HearingAdjudicatory HearingsDisposition HearingVictims’ RightsDependency, Abuse, and Neglect CasesCourt OrdersCases referred to Criminal CourtsJuveniles in Criminal CourtKent v. United StatesIn re GaultBreed v. JonesIn re WinshipMcKeiver v. PennsylvaniaStandards for the Administration of Juvenile JusticeConcurrent JurisdictionUniform Juvenile Court ActSelected State Court DecisionsRight to Appeal a Transfer to Criminal CourtJuvenile Court and Individual RightsStandards for Juvenile JusticeDue ProcessWaiver of Fourth Amendment RightsWaiver of CounselRights at a Probation Revocation HearingKey Supreme Court CasesJuvenile ProbationJuvenile ProbationHistory of ProbationStatus of ProbationExtent of ProbationConditions of ProbationProbationers’ RightsFunctions of ProbationPredisposition EvaluationsParental Involvement in ProbationRequirement to ApologizeJuvenile Institutions and Early ReleasesTypes of InstitutionsTypical Juvenile FacilitiesReleasesDeterminate and Indeterminate SentencingHistory of ParoleParole TodayThe Parole DecisionParole ServicesRevocation of ParoleDischarge from ParoleJuvenile Group HomesOverview of the Missouri Division of Youth Services(DYS)Referral to a Group HomeEffectiveness of Group Homes Boot Camps and Shock ProgramsCharacteristics of Boot CampsEvaluation of Boot Camp ProgramsShock IncarcerationRehabilitative ProgrammingAttitudinal ChangeRecidivismSelected Issues in Juvenile JusticeDrug AbusersJuvenile Drug CourtsJuvenile Sex OffendersYouth GangsAppendix: Common Terms Used in Juvenile Corrections

Cliff Roberson LLM, Ph.D. is Academic Chair, Graduate School of Criminal Justice at Kaplan University and Emeritus Professor of Criminal Justice at Washburn University. He has authored or co-authored 52 books and texts. In 2009, a research study conducted by a group of professors from Sam Houston State University determined that Cliff Roberson was the leading criminal justice author in the United States based upon on his publications and their relevance to the profession. —Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol.6, issue 1, 2009