NCJ Number
85102
Date Published
1982
Length
538 pages
Annotation
This book discusses the changing nature of delinquency, emphasizing the psychological development of the child, incidence of delinquent behavior, and theoretical explanations of delinquency.
Abstract
It addresses the historical interdependence of traditional concepts of childhood, delinquency, and juvenile justice. It examines the extent and nature of delinquent behavior by using census data to standardize official measures of illegal conduct, the latest surveys of self-report and victim accounts of the same behavior, and all three measures to seek out areas of agreement and disagreement in order to assess the trends and implications of the past 20 years. Scientific explanations for delinquent behavior are offered through discussion of various theories, including control theory, cultural deviance, symbolic interactionist, strain, and radical theory. The text identifies concepts affecting the operation of the police, juvenile court, and corrections until the 1960's. It describes the current revolution in juvenile justice in terms of intellectual foundations, family court and just deserts models, and the incipient development of a new concept of childhood. The work stresses the fact that far more than in the past, the avowed goals of juvenile justice will be punishment and deterrence rather than rehabilitation. Over 100 references, photographs, figures, and an author and a subject index are included.