Juvenile Justice System Exam #1

Nj court definition of Delinquency

Someone under 18 who breaks the law

NC Courts definition of Delinquency

a child who is at least 6 but less than 18 years of age that commits an offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult.

Bates & Swan

An act committed by an individual under the age of 18 who violates the penal code of the region in which the act is committed.

Why is delinquency an social constructed concept

Because behavior takes place within a social context that can change the development of delinquency, the definition of delinquency, Reform and punishment of delinquents, and policy decisions about preventing delinquency.

Status Offenceses

acts that are not considered crimes and for which adults cannot get in trouble, but that society does not want juveniles doing.

Understanding Juvenile Delinquency using Critical Thinking

Many myths surrounding youth crime, Media headlines don’t always equal trends, Many factors + perspectives to consider, Need to use evidence-based practices, Juvenile Delinquency is complex.

Critical Thinking

Clarify, Question, Identify, Analyse, Evaluate, and Create

Defining critical thinking

think clearly and rationally about the subject matter under consideration - Seton Hall University

Characteristics of Critical Thinkers

Truth-seeking, open-minded, analytical, systematic, inquisitive

Questions to ask yourself throughout this class

why? Why does this matter? What does this mean? What would be an example?

Prior to the late 1800s

Children were seen as an excellent source of cheap and dutiful labor, because they were not seen that differently than adults in the eyes of institutions

What do we as society believe about juveniles?

We believe that juveniles can still be “saved”. Juveniles are innocent and in need for our protection

Example of Statue offences

running away from home, absence of school, smoking and drinking, and reccuring behavior at home.

Chronic status offenders

Those who engage in repeated and systematic behavior even after the behavior has bee addressed by school, family, or social service agency

Normative conception of delinquency

Assumes people have similar understanding of deliquency

Rubington and Weinberg

argued that there are generally two ways of conceptualizing deviance and delinquency either “objectively given” or “subjectively problematic”

Folkways

are everyday norms that do not generate much uproar if they are violated

Mores

are “moral” norms that may generate more outrage if broken.

Law

considered the strongest norm because it is backed by official sanctions. Deviance and delinquency becomes a violation of rule understood by the majority of the group.

social constructionist conception

Subjectively problematic. Definitions based on societal interactions

Critical conception

Definitions of delinquency come from those in power. Can produce a system of “haves” and “have-nots”

Education

Educational attainment has also been increasing for juveniles

The cradle-to-prison pipeline

Many issues for children that make it more likely they will become incarcerated at some stage in their lives.

Ascribe Status

Status given based on characteristics that a person cannot control or choose

Social differentiation

How the U.S define, describe, and distinguish people based on different categories.

Achieved Status

Status given according to accomplishments. Something you earn, you can chose

Social Inequality

Base of category such as age, race, gender, or class have had values placed on the, we have been placed “judgements of inequalities” on them.

Individual racism, classism, or sexism

conscious or unconscious prejudices that affect how a person of a particular identity is treated

Institutional racism, classism, or sexism

occurs when individuals are disadvantaged because of their race, class, or gender because of this routine working if institutions in the United States. Embedded in policies, practices, or procedures in society

How was the Juvenile system created?

It was created under a different philosophy than adult. While the adult system focuses on punishment, the juvenile system was created under a philosophy that children are savable and thus rehabilitation, not punishment, should be the focus.

What was the most important instituted formal rule?

Juveniles had the right to an attorney and a notice of the charges against them, to confront their accusrt, and to not to incriminate themselves

Example of ascribe status

biological sex

Example of acheived Status

grade point average, public or private school, gender

Children’s restrictions on behavior are based on developmental maturity

Physical Development (the first thing we look at), Intellectual development, emotional developmenr

Age

Age is a biological thing

What does age mean?

Based on social construction

What’s the age range of Juveniles

people who are 12 to 17

Juveniles place in society

Often dependent on others caring for them, hold less power than adults, had little say in other decisions, primary focus is on school (not work)

Is there an universal definition of juvenile delinquency?

No

Example of Critical Conception

Those in power who benefit themselves

Example of Social Conception

Based on lived experience

Example of normative conception

Someone saying thank you after being helped

Intersecting Identities

Shape how individuals experience the criminal justice system

What happens to those who have multiple marginalized identities

Face harder outcomes and more prone to suscpicions

Moral Panic

Used to Spread Fear. Particular threats in our life that is exaggerated or blown out of proportion. It focuses on marginalized societies. Always link to the interest of children.

Example of Moral Panic

Salem witch-trials and war-on-drugs.

Moral Panics 1700s-1800s

Music and photography art. Poisoning young people’s morals.

Moral Panics 19000

all forms of media and dime novels

Moral Panics 1920/30s

Films and jazz music. It brings out the “evil listener”

Moral Panic 1930s-50s

Comic books

Moral Panic 1950s

Elvis and his “gyrating” hips

Moral Panic 1960s-1970s

Hippies and music like the Grateful Dead

Moral Panic 1980s-1990s

Heavy metal, rap, and video games. “Corrupt youth”

Superpredators in the 1990s

A myth. A small population of youth will commit violent crimes and have no remorse for committing crimes

Why is superpredators so important

Led to expanded criminal sanctions for juveniles and a growing prison population. During this time, children who committed crimes started to be tried at adult court.

Moral Panics in the 2000s

Video Games. It was blames as a caused of school shootings like sandy hook.

Story of Nathon Brooks

Nathan was 14 and was grounded from video games and electronics. He believed his parents should pay, so he shot his mother and father as they slept. It was a premeditated homicide.

Moral Panica in 2010-Present

Video games, online storytelling websites, and Internet challenges