JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RESEARCH

1. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY RESEARCH

2. What is crime? Is a violation of societal rules of behavior as interpreted & expressed by a criminal legal code created by people holding social & political power Individuals who violate these rules are subject to sanctions by state authority, social stigma & loss of status

3. What is Juvenile Delinquency? • The Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act defines juvenile delinquency as any act that is otherwise a crime, but is committed by someone who is under 18 years of age • sets forth rules by which state laws must comply with regard to juvenile court procedures and punishments.

4. Juvenile justice is the area of criminal law applicable to persons not old enough to be held responsible for criminal acts.  • In most states, the age for criminal culpability is set at 18 years. • Juvenile law is mainly governed by state law and most states have enacted a juvenile code. 

5. The main goal of the juvenile justice system is rehabilitation rather than punishment. • Juveniles can be transferred into adult court if the juvenile court waives or relinquishes its jurisdiction.

6. The doctrine of parens patriae authorizes the state to legislate for the protection, care, custody, and maintenance of children within its jurisdiction.

7. BRIEF HISTORY • The origins of the juvenile court have been subject to a number of historical interpretations. • For instance, the juvenile court has traditionally been viewed as originating with the Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1899, the statute that first formalized the creation of the court and defined its’ jurisdiction. • However, an alternative view portrays the juvenile court as the result of the evolution during the nineteenth century and before there were a variety of systems for handling juvenile justice and child welfare matters.

8. The federal role in the field has largely been that of funder and standard setter. • Congress passed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Control Act in 1968. • This was later revised in 1972, and renamed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Act. • The stated purpose of the act is to assist states and local communities in providing community based preventative services to youths in danger of becoming delinquent, • to help train individuals in occupations providing such services, and to provide technical assistance in the field.

11. Measuring crime: • Survey data use questionnaires--probability samples • Record data—criminal behavior recorded by the police • Cohort data—measures a group of people—common characteristics, i.e., age • Longitudinal cohort study—over time • Observation data—participant observation • Interview data—life history

12. How crime is reported • There are three significant methods used: • 1. official data • 2. victim data • 3. self-report data

13. Official data, e.g., the Uniform Crime Report • Crime data collected by the FBI from local police departments • Reports index crimes—eight serious crimes: murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, arson, larceny and motor vehicle theft

14. victim data, e.g., National Crime Victimization survey (NCVS) • Annual survey conducted jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau & the Department of Justice—questions a large national sample about their experiences as victims of crime

15. self-report data, e.g., self-report surveys • A research approach that questions large groups of subjects, e.g., students, about their own participation in delinquent or criminal acts

16. Crime trends • Study of changes in the crime rates—increase/decrease

17. Violent crime • Include murder, rape, assault and robbery • Increase/decrease--

18. Property crime • Include larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson • Increase/decrease--

19. Victimization surveys • Violent & property crime rates fell

20. Self-report surveys • The use of alcohol & drugs increased

21. What the future holds • Criminologist James A. Fox predicts an increase in teen violence

22. Crime patterns • Ecological view, i.e., urban areas—more crimes committed—poverty—economic reasons • Socialization view, i.e., personality, intelligence or other traits—across the social structure

23. The ecology of crime • Most crimes occur—summer months—July-August, 1st. Day of the month

24. Social class & crime • Stratification system: Lower class, middle class & upper class • Class discussion--

25. Age & crime • Younger people commit crime more than older people • Class discussion

26. Gender & crime • Masculinity hypothesis, i.e., women who commit crime have biological traits similar to men • Class discussion

27. Race & crime • Racial minorities are disproportionately more involved in criminal activity • Class discussion • Racial profiling--“Driving While Black” • Victim Discounting

28. Criminal careers • Career criminal: a repeat offender--recidivism • Chronic offender: a delinquent arrested more than five times

31. Six Landmark Supreme Court decisions on Juvenile Justice: Kent v. United States (1966, District of Columbia) Rape & stealing case: juveniles receive the right to due process (14th Amendment) during waiver, such as trial by jury, bail, and stricter rules of evidence

32. Gault v. United States (1967, Arizona) Lewd phone call case: juveniles were given the right to notice of charges, the right to counsel, the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses and the privilege against self-incrimination—Miranda rights (5th Amendment)

33. Winship v. United States (1970, New York)Larceny case: juveniles could not be found delinquent unless there was “proof beyond a reasonable doubt”

34. McKeiver v. Pennsylvania (1971, Pennsylvania) Robbery & larceny case: Juveniles did not possess the right to a trial by jury (6th Amendment)—ruling reaffirmed the parens patriae doctrine of the juvenile court

35. Schall v. Martin (1984, New York)Robbery & assault—possession of gun case: juveniles can be held in detention before trial to prevent them from committing additional crimes

36. Stanford v. United States (1989, Kentucky) Murder case: juveniles under 18 years of age can be executed