Juvenile Justice in America
Chapter 2
Tonight we will be discussing next
week’s assignment and readings
Submit: Case Study:
Juvenile Delinquency: Needs
Select two case studies (from the three below) and write a
4 – 6 page paper (excluding cover page) that addresses the
following bullets relative to each case study you select. As
you address each bullet outlined and consider each case,
you will also need to think critically about the uniqueness
of the specific culture, how the people involved in the
situation are communicating within the culture in which
the situation is occurring, and take into account variables
of the specific culture. Your paper should be written in
narrative form and clearly address the following.
NOTE: You may want to consider using resources
beyond the textbook to support your points.
What theory best explains why the juvenile profiled is
engaging in delinquent behavior?
Explain the theory in detail
Explain why this theory best explains the juvenile’s
delinquent behavior
What sociological and psychological variables are there
in the case study?
Based on your selected theory, develop an intervention
for the juvenile that is appropriate for the specific
cultural circumstance.
In addition to fulfilling the specifics of the
assignment, a successful paper must also meet the
following criteria:
Length should be 4 – 6 pages, excluding cover page and
references page
Double-spaced and in a 12-point font
Viewpoint and purpose should be clearly established and sustained
Assignment should follow the conventions of Standard American
English (correct grammar, punctuation, etc.).
Writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as
original and insightful
Your work should display superior content, organization, style,
and mechanics
Appropriate citation style should be followed
If I were writing this paper:
Title Page (Does not count towards page count)
Case Study 1: Abby or Justin or Ryan (pick 1)

Name/define theory.




Explain how Theory works
List characteristics of theory and apply it to the facts from your
scenario.
Remember to cite sources
Tie in one or two other theories that could also explain
this behavior and do the same thing with them (list
these as secondary causes)
If I were doing this (continued):
Case Study 2: Abby or Justin or Ryan (pick 1)

Name/define theory.




Explain how Theory works
List characteristics of theory and apply it to the facts from your
scenario.
Remember to cite sources
Tie in one or two other theories that could also explain
this behavior and do the same thing with them (list these
as secondary causes)
Reference Page (Does not count towards page count)
Example (do NOT use this case)
Billy Bob (age 15) lives in with mom (Juanita) and
her boyfriend (Carlos). Carlos and Juanita ignore
BB and what he does, use drugs, and have been
telling Billy Bob for the last 10 years that he is
stupid, no good and will never amount to anything.
Billy Bob wants a new car, but knows that he will
never be able to afford it by working, because he is
stupid. So he quits school and starts selling
marijuana. He is caught with 5 pounds of Marijuana.
Title Page
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/)
Outline of what I would do:
(I love subheadings)
 Case Study 4: Billy Bob
Social Process Theory
 Define: View that criminality is a function of
people’s interaction with various organizations,
institutions, and processes in society (cite source).

 If
the social relationships we rely on daily are generally
positive and supportive, we will likely succeed,
irrespective of what socioeconomic group or class we
are in (cite source).
continued
 Conversely,
if those relations are destructive and
dysfunctional, conventional success is unlikely (cite
source).
 Inconsistent discipline, poor supervision, lack of warm,
loving, supportive parent-child relationship leads to
delinquency(cite source).
 Apply this to case – BB’s parent/father figure are not
supportive, not warm, put him down.
 Likely outcome is delinquent behavior
Continued

Second Applicable Theory: Social Reaction Theory
(also called Labeling Theory)
 Define:
View that people become criminals when labeled as
such and when they accept the label as a personal identity
(cite source).



Everyone gets labels: smart, geek, cute, weird, etc. If you hear it
enough, especially from those who matter, and you begin to believe
it (cite source).
BB told stupid, never going to amount to anything, dropped out of
school, id something that he thought he didn’t need special skills or
education for.
Labeling resulted in his seeing no way to get ahead, other than
crime.
Continued:

Third Applicable Theory: Strain Theory
 Define:
Views crime as a function of the conflict between
peoples’ goals and ability to achieve them (cite source).




Most people have similar aspirations, but they don’t all have the same
opportunities or abilities. When people fail to achieve goals through
approved means such as hard work and delayed gratification, they may
attempt to achieve success through crime (cite source).
Unequal distribution of wealth and power; Poor schooling; Frustration,
anger, disappointment, depression, fear; Alternative methods of
achieving goals; drop out; drug use; American Dream - Failure to
achieve goals (cite source).
Apply to BB
Reference Page
Questions?
• Assumptions are OK if they are reasonable
• Citations – APA is goal, but decent attempt.
• Length – 4 pages means 4 pages, not 3 pages
and a line.
- Max is 6 pages – believe it!
• Everything goes through Turnitin.com
• Please don’t send me rough drafts for approval –
if you mess it up, I will allow you to redo it.
What we are going to cover now:
We are going to cheat and cover next
week’s materials so that you can do the
assignment easier.
I suspect that you have all taken
Criminology, but a refresher won’t
hurt.
The Relationship Between
Theory and Research
Research finds methods to collect data,
identify variables to be studied, tests
variables, analyzes related variables, and
suggests new direction for the theory.
Theory points the way to new research,
helps derive new variables, interprets new
and old ideas, builds systems of thoughts,
and leads the way to new social and
theoretical conclusions.
Free Will vs. Deterministic View
 Free Will Theory- Adults and juveniles
choose their actions after weighing the pros
and cons of the action.
 Deterministic
View- Internal and
external factors are
why juveniles
commit crime.
Is Juvenile Crime Rational
Behavior?
Classical School of Criminology:
During 1700’s, CJ was geared toward
punishment and deterrence. Created by Cesare
Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham.
 This created harsh punishments including
torture and the death penalty for juveniles.
 Age 7 was/ is the common law age for which
juveniles can be held accountable for a crime.

Is Juvenile Crime Rational
Behavior Cont?
Rational Choice TheoryBelieves incentive and
deterrence and focuses on
incentives and payoffs of
criminal behavior.

Criminal Opportunity
Theory- Criminals tend to
choose behaviors that are
high payoff with little risk.
Luke – come to
the dark side!
How Has Determinism Influenced the
Development of the Positive School?
Development of Positivism: Human
behavior is one facet of the world that is
part of a natural order.
To change human behavior is impossible
 Laws can be understood and used
 People commit crimes for many reasons

Biological Positivism
Common biological factors determine who
is and who is not a criminal.
In the 20th century sociobiologists look at
genetic and environmental factors.
Neuropsychologists believe there is a
relationship between negative behaviors and
ones temperament.
Sociological Positivism
Social Structural Theories:

Believe that social disorganization, cultural
deviance, and status frustration induce the
lower class individuals to become criminals.
Sociological Positivism Cont,
Social Structural Theories Cont.

Social Disorganization Theory: Crime is a
result of the breakdown of social control by
traditional primary groups (family and
neighborhood) because of social
disorganization in the community.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Structural Theories Cont.
Cultural Deviance Theory: Lower class has its
own cultural history and the motivation to
involved in criminal activities is intrinsic to
lower class culture.
 Focal concerns consist of trouble, toughness,
smartness, excitement, fate, and autonomy

Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Structural Theories Cont.

Status Frustration Theory: Theory suggests that
the destructive and malicious behavior of lower
class delinquent subcultures is a reaction to
their failure to achieve middle class norms and
values.
Social Positivism Cont.
Social Process Theories:

Examines the interactions between people and
their environment that influence individuals to
be involved in criminal behaviors.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Process Theories Cont.

Differential Association Theory: Criminals
learn crime from others. Learn crime from
family and peers.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Process Theories Cont.
Containment Theory: Attempts to explain why
individuals do not commit crimes. Believes
there are internal and external factors associated
with non delinquent behavior.
 Internal factors: self control, self concept, ego
strength, well developed superego, and high
frustration tolerance.
 External factors: persons immediate
environment is able to hold him/ her to socially
expectable bounds.

Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Process Theories Cont:
Social Control Theory: Delinquency depends
on the bond the individual has with social
groups such as family, peers, and school.
 Main elements: attachment, commitment,
involvement, and belief.

Sociological Positivism Cont.
Social Process Theories Cont.

Labeling Theory- If an individual is labeled as a
delinquent they will be a delinquent.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Conflict Theories

Socioeconomic Class and Marxist Criminology:
Liberal perspective. Views state and laws as
being the economic tools of the dominant class.
Caused by extreme poverty and economic
alienation.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Conflict Theories Cont.

Power and Authority RelationshipsEmphasizes the relationship of authority and
their subjects. Power is the most important
aspect in explaining crime.
Sociological Positivism Cont.
Conflict Theory Cont.

Group and Cultural Conflict- The entire process
of law making and breaking directly affects
deep-seated conflicts between interest groups.
Ex. Green Party vs. Republican Party
Psychological Positivism
Most popular theory in the US.
Psychoanalytic Explanations:

Developed by Sigmund Freud
Id, Ego, and Superego
 Fraud believed that the personality was fully
developed by age 5.
 Oral, Anal, and Phallic stages of development
 Delinquent behavior related to neurotic development
in personality, defective superego, overly developed
superego, and search for compensatory gratification.

Psychological Positivism Cont.
Sensation Seeking and Delinquency:

An individuals need for varied, novel, and
complex sensations and experiences and the
willingness to take risks for such experiences.
Psychological Positivism Cont.
Psychopath:

Hard core juvenile offenders. Undomesticated children who never
develop trust or loyalty.
Characteristics of a Psychopath:





Charming
Intelligent
Is not delusional
Unreliable
Cannot be trusted
- Lack remorse or shame
- Will commit crimes for small stakes
- Poor Judgment
- Does not learn from experience
Psychological Positivism Cont.
Reinforcement Theory:
Behavior is governed by its consequent rewards
and punishments, as reflected in the history of
the individual.
 Rewards of crime are faster than rewards of
non crime (future).
