NCJ Number
10015
Date Published
1972
Length
139 pages
Annotation
ROLE OF THE POLICE IN RELATION TO THE OVERALL PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE DRUG PROBLEM, AND THE OPERATIONS OF THE JUVENILE COURT.
Abstract
THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS BOOK RESTS ON THE PREMISE THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE RESOLUTION OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS IS DEFINED AS A SECONDARY TASK. AS A RESULT OF THE EXPANDING ROLE OF THE POLICE AND THE FACT THAT PATTERNS OF YOUTHFUL ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR ARE OFTEN PERPETUATED INTO ADULTHOOD, THE TEXT SEEKS TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF DELINQUENCY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT. INITIALLY, THE AUTHOR INTRODUCES VARIOUS CONCEPTS OF DELINQUENCY AND DISCUSSES THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS OF STATISTICAL DATA. NUMEROUS THEORIES OF DELINQUENCY ARE PRESENTED, GROUPED ACCORDING TO SOCIOLOGICAL, PERSONALITY MALADJUSTMENT, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS. THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUVENILE COURT IS REVIEWED, AND ITS PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS, AND OPERATION ARE CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO POLICE WORK. THE AUTHOR STRESSES DELINQUENCY PREVENTION AND GIVES GUIDELINES FOR CASE DISPOSITIONS. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL COVERS DEPENDENT, NEGLECTED, AND ABUSED CHILDREN, POLICE SERVICES FOR JUVENILES, AND THE FUNCTIONS OF JUVENILE CONTROL UNITS. THE FINAL CHAPTER PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE DRUG PROBLEM. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED THROUGH DISCUSSION, TABLES, AND ILLUSTRATIONS ON DRUG IDENTIFICATION, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS, AND LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON POSSESSION AND USE OF DRUGS. THIS TEXT WOULD BE USEFUL NOT ONLY FOR TRAINING PROSPECTIVE POLICE OFFICERS, BUT ALSO AS BACKGROUND MATERIAL FOR VETERAN OFFICERS. (SNI ABSTRACT)