ISSUES IN JUVENILE JUSTICE

The majority of serious adult criminals begin their deviant careers as juveniles, therefore an investigation of the origins of juvenile delinquency is simultaneously an examination of many of the origins of crime and deviance generally. Students explore juvenile crime from a variety of perspectives and contemporary theoretical approaches to the origins of delinquent youth. This entails a critical examination of the contemporary juvenile justice system and discussion of current efforts to reform the system. The seminar also includes discussions of the connections among child abuse, drug abuse, gang involvement, familial and social factors and juvenile crime.