NCJ Number
11309
Date Published
1973
Length
190 pages
Annotation
EXAMINATION OF INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT, LIBERAL REFORM, AND RADICAL NONINTERVENTION AS PATTERNED REACTIONS TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
'LEAVING KIDS ALONE WHENEVER POSSIBLE,' THE BASIC STRATEGY BEHIND THE RADICAL NON-INTERVENTION THEORY, MAY WELL BE AN IMPROVEMENT ON CURRENT METHODS OF DEALING WITH THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM. IN THIS INVESTIGATION OF DELINQUENCY, FROM SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS TO PUBLIC REACTIONS, THE AUTHOR CHARACTERIZES THE JUVENILE COURT AS A SYSTEM THAT SUBSCRIBES TO A VAGUE, CONFUSING DEFINITION OF 'DELINQUENCY,' SETS ARBITRARY PENALTIES, AND DISGUISES PUNISHMENT AS 'TREATMENT.' RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO FORCE AS MANY INDIVIDUALS AS POSSIBLE TO 'ADJUST,' THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT SOCIETY ACCOMMODATE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE DIVERSITY. FOR EACH APPROACH MR. SCHUR LISTS AND EXAMINES BASIC ASSUMPTION, FAVORED METHODOLOGIES, FOCAL POINTS OF RESEARCH, REPRESENTATIVE CAUSAL PERSPECTIVES, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTION, TREATMENT SUGGESTIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THE JUVENILE COURT. HE EXAMINES SUCH FACETS OF THE DELINQUENCY PROBLEM AS PUBLIC ATTITUDES, MISCONCEPTIONS, DELINQUENCY TYPOLOGIES, LABELING, AND THE CRIMINAL LAW AS IT RELATES TO DELINQUENCY. CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION IS ALSO GIVEN TO THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY CAUSATION, SUCH AS DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION, LABELING THEORY, AND VARIOUS OTHER THEORIES RELATING DEVIANCE TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)