CCJS300 Book Notes Chapter 1 What is Delinquency and How Does it Differ from Adult Crime Juvenile Delinquency refers to violations of the criminal law by minors Juvenile Delinquents are viewed differently than adult criminals Our society tends to view juvenile delinquents differently than adult criminals If a juvenile breaks the law the general public tends to view that person as immature and in need of our guidance or help Immaturity wrong cause o The individuals did not know that what they were doing was o They did not appreciate the harm that their actions might o They could not control themselves o They were easily led astray by others o Stems from lack of experience Adolescents have more trouble exercising self control and resisting the influence of peers If an adult breaks the law we generally view that person as someone who is responsible for his or her behavior and deserves to be punished Some juvenile offenders mostly older and closer to adults age are viewed very similarly to adults Only 21 of the public said that rehabilitation should be the most important sentencing goal for adults 50 for juveniles Juvenile Delinquents are Treated Differently Than Adult Criminals Special courts and programs for juveniles Special Laws for Juveniles Status Offenses Status Offenses Juveniles can be sent to juvenile court for certain acts that are legal for adults o Ex Running away from home failure to attend school truancy refusing to obey parents incorrigibility drinking alcohol violating curfew and engaging in certain consensual sexual activities Status offense laws were taken seriously until the 1960 s juveniles were often arrested and taken to court Most likely to be enforced against females Came under heavy criticism in the 1960 s o Vague o Often subjected juveniles who had not committed any criminal o Poor minority and female juveniles were more likely to be acts to severe penalties punished for such offenses In response to criticism most states developed diversion programs designed to divert status offenders from the juvenile court o Status offenders no longer classified as delinquents in most o Strongly encourages states to stop placing status offenders in institutions was largely effective o Some states decriminalized status offenses o Status offenses now dealt with by social services o Status offenses are still illegal in most states A Special Court for Juveniles Juvenile Court Goals of juvenile court are different from those of adult court o Set up not to punish juveniles but rather to help and guide states them o Focuses more on the offender than on the offense o More informal and less adversarial than adult court Informality has changed since the 1960s Supreme court decisions have granted juveniles most of the due process rights available to adults Differences in terminology employed o Juveniles are not considered guilty but adjudicated a delinquent o Not sentenced but disposition Juvenile court hearings are usually closed to the public and the media to protect the juvenile from adverse publicity and stigma o Juvenile records are also unavailable o Juveniles are able to seal or erase their records if they stay out of trouble for a certain period of time Differences in the sentences given out o Cannot impose the death penalty o Limits on length of time for which juvenile courts can confine juveniles not past 21st birthday o Generally milder Special Correctional Programs for Juveniles o The view of juveniles as immature creatures in need of guidance and help has led us to develop special correctional programs for them o More concerned with rehabilitation o Called youth development centers or training schools o Community based programs Older Serious Juvenile Offenders as an Exception Over the past two decades older juveniles who commit serious crimes have been viewed and treated less like traditional juvenile delinquents and more like adult offenders Many violent crimes committed by juveniles have received mass publicity There has been a major movement in recent decades to punish more severely older juveniles who commit serious crimes Focuses on making it easier to try older individuals who commit serious crimes in adult court How can we explain the Invention of Juvenile Delinquency The invention refers to the special way that society views and treats juvenile delinquents Juvenile delinquents have not always been viewed and treated differently than adult criminals Juvenile offenders were viewed and treated like adult offenders until the 1800 s First juvenile court in 1899 1945 all states had juvenile courts Changing Conception of Children Children past the age of 6 or 7 were not viewed much differently than adults until a few hundred years ago As people came to view children differently than adults they were more inclined to view and treat juvenile offenders differently than adult offenders Major Social Changes Especially the Growth of Urban Slums Moved from largely rural to largely urban society in early 1900 s Urban areas populated by large number of poor Large slums began to appear had poor housing overcrowding sanitation problems health problems more crime Many children spent their time in the streets stealing things and committing other crimes to survive Poor children contributed to the invention of juvenile delinquency o Reformers were genuinely concerned about the plight of poor children growing up in the city o Many upper class people were disturbed by the large concentration of poor people especially immigrants in the city thought were a disruptive force in society Child saving movement analyze child savers and their class on deciding which interpretation is true