Standard

 

CRJ 107 - Introduction to Juvenile Justice

Course Description

Analyzes the nature, extent, and causes of juvenile delinquency, and examines processes in the field of juvenile justice.  Topics include:  survey of juvenile law, comparative analysis of adult and juvenile justice systems, and prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency.

 

Competency Areas

Hours

 

Survey of Juvenile Law

Class

5

Comparative Analysis of Adult and Juvenile Justice Systems

D. Lab

0

Prevention and Treatment of Juvenile Delinquency

P. Lab/O.B.I.

0

 

Credit

5

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

CRJ 101

Corequisite:

 

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

SURVEY OF JUVENILE LAW

10

0

0

Definition of juvenile delinquency

Define the meaning of juvenile delinquency.

 

 

 

Historical perspective

Contrast present day criminal justice traditions and practices with their historical precedents and beginnings.

 

 

 

Major causes

List at least two of the major causes of juvenile delinquency.

 

 

 

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ADULT AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS

25

0

0

Court procedures

Show the typical procedures and steps an offender undergoes in his/her progression through the system, both adult and juvenile.

 

 

 

 

Explain at least three of the general proceedings of the juvenile court system.

 

 

 

Factors influencing juvenile delinquency

Identify at least three of the problem areas which have an influence upon juvenile delinquency from peers, parents, etc. and explain their effect.

 

 

 

 

Explain the concept of labeling theory.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the relevance and dynamics of gang theory to juvenile delinquency causation.

 

 

 

 

Summarize the major criminogenic factors and forces which thrust people into crime.

 

 

 

 

Define the so-called victimless crimes and the reasons behind that labeling application.

 

 

 

Analysis of institutionalization of adults and juveniles

Compare at least five major differences between juvenile and adult institutionalization.

 

 

 

Rehabilitation problems

Identify at least four problems facing prison inmate rehabilitation efforts.

 

 

 

Treatment of juvenile offenders

Explain the concept of shock incarceration.

 

 

 

 

Define the concept of community based corrections.

 

 

 

 

Explain the difference between vocational and therapeutic models for the rehabilitation of offenders.

 

 

 

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

15

0

0

Pros and cons of juvenile incarceration

Compare at least three advantages and disadvantages of juvenile incarceration.

 

 

 

School intervention

Relate the importance of the school to detection and prevention.

 

 

 

Juvenile halfway houses

List five descriptives of the juvenile halfway house concept.

 

 

 

Correctional counseling

Explain the various roles of psychologists, psychiatrists, and sociologists in correctional institutions.

 

 

 

 

Identify at least three goals of correctional counseling.

 

 

 

Drug and alcohol counseling

Identify some of the unique constraints and considerations in alcohol and drug abuse counseling.

 

 

 

 

Identify community crime prevention programs. Describe actions that citizens should take to implement a community or school crime prevention program.

 

 

 

 

State ways in which an actively used neighborhood recreational facility helps prevent crime.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Suggested Resources include textbooks shown below or most current edition.

 

Burney, E.  (1995).  Sentencing young people: The effects of the Criminal Justice Act 1982.  Brookfield, VT: Gower.

Cox, S. M., & Conrad, J. J.  (1997).  Juvenile justice: A guide to practice and theory (2nd ed.).  Dubuque, IA: Wm C. Brown.

Giller, H., & Morris, A.  (1997).  Understanding juvenile justice.  New York: Routledge, Chapman & Hall.