Juvenile Justice System

An introduction to the American juvenile justice system. The course provides an overview of the history of juvenile justice and a theoretical basis for interpreting the meaning and frequency of delinquent behavior and status offenses. Students will explore the various causes of delinquency, including psychological and sociological theories, the relationship between gangs, drugs and delinquency and the modes of interaction between law enforcement and juveniles. Students will also examine juvenile court procedures, due process rights of juveniles, alternative dispositions of offenders, including community intervention and residential/institutional confinement, and the future of juvenile justice.