Juvenile Delinquency

Rigorous yet accessible -- balances theory and application with a strong pedagogical approach

Juvenile Delinquency, Eleventh Edition, discusses delinquency as it relates to and emerges from the youth's family, neighborhood, school, peer group, social class, and overall cultural and social environment. Balancing theory with application, the authors explore the different causes of juvenile delinquency, examine its behaviors and consequences in social contexts, explain the role of the police and court system, and propose strategies for treatment and prevention. Interdisciplinary scholarship from sociologists, psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other specialists who have sought to understand, explain, control, and prevent juvenile delinquency is incorporated throughout the text. Learning outcomes offer students a roadmap for major concepts and key ideas while end-of-chapter outcomes assessments stimulate critical thinking and discussion. In each chapter, “Global Focus on Delinquency” boxes look at delinquency in different societies, cultures, and subcultures and “Controversial Issue” boxes address critical questions.

New to This Edition:

• New Chapter, “Female and LGBTQ Delinquency and Feminist Theories” emphasizes often overlooked female delinquency and juvenile delinquency in the LGBTQ+ community
• New and updated coverage of the media and social media is incorporated throughout the book to highlight one of the most important influences on juvenile delinquency today
• New discussion of transnational gangs and their influence both within and across national borders highlights a global rise in nationalism (Chapter 12)
• Updated coverage of video gaming and violence, cyberbullying, school shootings, drug usage, drinking, smoking, and vaping is presented and analyzed to keep students up to date on contemporary issues

Figures, Tables, and Boxes

Preface

1 A Sociological Approach to Juvenile Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
What Is Juvenile Delinquency?
Who Is a Juvenile? The Creation of Adolescence
The First Juvenile Court
What Is Delinquency?
The Legal Definition
The Role Definition
Marginality
The Societal Response Definition
The Role of Mass Media and Social Media in Defining Delinquency
A Synthesized Sociolegal Definition of Delinquency
The Sociological Perspective
Norms: Folkways, Mores, Laws, and Taboos
Folkways
Mores
Laws
Taboos
Normative Behavior: Conformity
Deviant Behavior: Nonconformity and Range of Tolerance
Voluntary Social Control
Informal Social Control
Formal Social Control
Negative Aspects of Deviance
Positive Aspects of Deviance
Juvenile Delinquency as a Social Problem
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
2 Dimensions of Juvenile Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
Mass Media and Social Media as Sources of Delinquency (Mis)Information
Juvenile Delinquency Data
Validity and Reliability
Validity
Reliability
Official Sources of Delinquency Information
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Juvenile Arrests for Specific Offenses

Sex and Gender Factors in Juvenile Delinquency
Racial and Ethnic Factors in Juvenile Delinquency
Place of Residence and Arrest Statistics
Juvenile Court Statistics
Methodology
Findings
Limitations of Official Delinquency Data
Arrest Statistics
The Dark Figure of Crime and Delinquency
Juvenile Court Statistics
Unofficial Sources of Delinquency Information
Self-Report Studies
Victimization Surveys
The Magnitude and Trends of Juvenile Delinquency
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
3 Classical, Biological, and Psychogenic Explanations of Juvenile
Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
The Link Between Biology and Behavior: Myths and Folklore
The Classical School of Criminological Thought
The Positive School of Criminology
Twentieth-Century Constitutional Typologies
The Continuing Search for a Biological Connection
Genetic Crime Causation: The XYY Hypothesis
Diet and Deviant Behavior
Brain Malfunctions and Neurological Disorders
The Teenage Brain
Sociobiological Explanations
The Psychogenic Approach and the Medical Model
Discovery of the Unconscious and the Formation of Personality
Freudian Theory as an Explanation of Crime and Delinquency
The Medical Model: Delinquent Acts as Symptoms
Conduct Disorders and Risk/Needs Assessment
Other Psychogenic Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency
Flawed Personality: Psychopathology and Sociopathology
Adolescent Identity Crisis
Insufficient Moral Development
Media Violence, Video Games, and Aggressive Behavior
Predictors of Youth Violence
Evaluation of the Biological and Psychogenic Approaches
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion

4 Social Strain and Cultural Transmission Theories
Learning Outcomes
Social Strain Theories
Durkheim’s Concept of Anomie
Merton’s Theory of Anomie
Cohen’s “Delinquent Boys”
Cloward and Ohlin’s “Delinquency and Opportunity”
Agnew’s General Strain Theory
Evaluations of Social Strain Theories
Cultural Transmission Theories
Sellin’s Theory of Culture Conflict
Burgess’ Concentric Zone Theory
Shaw and McKay’s “High Delinquency Areas”
Miller’s Focus on Lower-Class Culture
Cultural Efficacy Theory
Evaluation of Cultural Transmission Theories
The Media, Social Strain, and Transmission of Cultural Values
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
5 Social Learning and Social Control Theories
Learning Outcomes
Social Learning Theories
Sutherland and Cressey’s Theory of Differential Association
Glaser’s Concept of Differential Identification
Social Learning and the Media
Akers’ Theory of Differential Reinforcement
Evaluation of Social Learning Theories
Social Control Theories
Reckless’ Containment Theory
Sykes and Matza’s Techniques of Neutralization
Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory
Religiosity and Juvenile Delinquency
Evaluation of Social Control Theories
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
6 Labeling and Radical/Conflict Theories
Learning Outcomes
Labeling Theories
Early Contributions to Labeling Theory
Tannenbaum’s Concept of “Tagging”
Lemert’s Primary and Secondary Deviance
Becker’s Developmental Career Model

What’s in a Name?
Evaluation of Labeling Theories
Radical/Conflict Theories
The Marxian Heritage
Quinney’s Social Reality of Crime and Delinquency
Greenberg’s Focus on Adolescent Frustration
Schwendingers’ Instrumental Theory
Evaluation of Radical/Conflict Theories
Media Role in Labeling Delinquents and Defining Delinquency
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
7 Integrated Theories: Maturation/Life-Course and Rational Choice/Deterrence
Learning Outcomes
Maturation and Life-Course Theories
Short-Run Hedonism: “Delinquency Is Fun!”
Media Portrayals of Delinquency as Fun
Spontaneous Remission, or “Aging Out”
Life-Course versus Adolescence-Limited Offenders
Antisocial Potential: ICAP Theory
Evaluation of Maturation and Life-Course Theories
Rational Choice Theory and Deterrence Theories
Rational Choice Theory
Deterrence Theory: The Punishment Response
Evaluation of Rational Choice and Deterrence Theories
Back to the Future: Prospects for Grand Theory Building
Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime and Delinquency
Control Balance Theory
Other Integrative Theories of Delinquency and the Search for a Grand Theory
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
8 Female and LGBTQ Delinquency and Feminist Theories
Learning Outcomes
Sex, Gender, and Delinquency
Female Delinquency
Status Offenses, Runaways, and Juvenile Prostitution
Female Gangs and Violent Crimes
Explaining Female Delinquency
Traditional Sociological Theories and Female Delinquency
Female Delinquency, Strain, and Cultural Transmission
Social Learning Theories and Socialization

Social Control, Self-Control, Girls, and Social Bonds
Labeling, Conflict Theories, and Female Delinquency
Feminist Theories of Crime and Delinquency
Liberation Hypothesis
Odd Girl Out Theory
Intersectionality and Delinquency
Evaluation of Theories of Female Delinquency
Juvenile Delinquency in the LGBTQ Community
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
9 Family and Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
The Changing Role of the Family
Increasing Importance of the Nuclear Family and the Creation of “Adolescence”
The Family as an Agent of Socialization
Families and the Media
Mothers Working Outside the Home and Juvenile Delinquency
Other Family Variables and Juvenile Delinquency
Social Class
Family Size and Birth Order
Family Interaction
Parental Discipline
Single-Parent Families and Delinquency
The Family and Delinquency Prevention
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
10 Schools and Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
The School as an Arena
Schools and the Socialization Process
Juvenile Delinquency and the School Experience
Schools as a Screening Device
Schools as “Combat Zones”
Vandalism and Destruction
Violence and Personal Attacks
School Shootings
Bullying and Cyberbullying
School Safety and “Zero Tolerance”

Schools and Delinquency Prevention
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
11 Youth Subcultures and Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
Culture, Subcultures, and Countercultures
The Creation of a Youth Subculture
Role of the Youth Subculture
Distinctive Elements of the Youth Subculture
Youth Values
Tattoos and Body Piercing
Dress, Grooming, and Fads
Mass Media, Social Media, and Technology
Sexting
Language (Argot)
The Youth Subculture and Juvenile Delinquency
Juveniles, Drugs, Drinking, Smoking, and Vaping
Juveniles and Sex
The Straight Edgers
Youth Countercultures and Delinquency
Teenage Satanic Groups
Youth Hate Groups
The Youth Subculture and Delinquency Prevention
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
12 Juvenile Gangs and Delinquency
Learning Outcomes
Play Groups and Group Delinquency
Juvenile Gangs
What Is a Gang?
History of Youth Gangs
Media Portrayals of Gangs
Transnational Gangs
Youth Gangs in the United States
Motives for Gang Membership
Initiation Rituals
Gang Organization
The Near Group
Gang Graffiti, Argot/Slanguage, and Symbols
Composition of Gang Membership

Social Class
Racial/Ethnic Composition of Gangs
Gang Violence
Gang Intervention and Prevention
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
13 Juveniles and the Police
Learning Outcomes
Juvenile Encounters with Police
Policing Juveniles
Law Enforcement Role
Crime Prevention Role
Media Images of Police and Law Enforcement
Police Discretion in Handling Juveniles
Legal Factors
Seriousness of the Offense
Prior Police Contacts
Evidence
Complainant
Extralegal Factors
Age
Sex and Gender
Race and Ethnicity
Socioeconomic Status
Appearance, Attitude, and Demeanor of the Juvenile
Willingness of Parents to Cooperate
Characteristics of the Police Officer
Police and Due Process
Police, Community Policing, and Delinquency Prevention
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
14 Juvenile Courts and Corrections
Learning Outcomes
Historical Background of the Juvenile Court
The Child Savers Movement
The Juvenile Court
The Media and “Getting Tough on Crime”
Waiver: Remanding Juveniles to Adult Courts
Juvenile Courts, Due Process, and the U.S. Supreme Court
Juvenile Court Procedures

Intake
Adjudication
Disposition
Juvenile Corrections
Juvenile Probation
Restitution and “Restorative Justice”
Juvenile Placement
Detention Facilities
Training Schools
Group Homes
Private Facilities
Juvenile Aftercare
Juveniles in Adult Jails and Prisons
Capital Punishment for Juveniles and Roper v. Simmons
Deinstitutionalization, Community Corrections, and Diversion
House Arrest
Youth Service Bureaus
VisionQuest
Juvenile Boot Camps
Other Diversion Programs
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
15 Delinquency Treatment and Prevention
Learning Outcomes
Medicalization and Medical Treatment for Social Problems
Media and the Medical Model of Delinquency
Treatment Ideology and Delinquency Treatment Programs
Behavior Modification
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Reality Therapy and Choice Theory
Group and Individual Counseling and Therapy
Prevention Ideology and Delinquency Prevention Programs
Early Identification
Predelinquency and Early Identification
Sociological Approaches to Delinquency Treatment and Prevention
The Chicago Area Project
The Mid-City Project
Mobilization for Youth
Minnesota Youth Advocate Program/Urban League
Neighborhood Youth Corps and Job Training
P.I.N.S. (Persons In Need of Supervision) Programs
The Millcreek Youth Correctional Facility
The Paint Creek Youth Center
Project New Pride
Mentoring Programs
Other Programs

Mobilizing the Community to Prevent Delinquency
Crimestoppers and Hotlines
Neighborhood Watch and Youth Crime Watch
Guardian Angels and Cyber Angels
Evaluation of Delinquency Treatment and Prevention Strategies
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
16 Rethinking the Delinquency Problem
Learning Outcomes
The Social Nature of Juvenile Delinquency
Eliminating the Marginal Status of Juveniles
Rites of Passage
Meaningful Social Participation
Standardization or Elimination of Juvenile Codes
Decriminalization of Status Offenses
Revision of the Juvenile Court
Limited Jurisdiction
Due Process
Professional Judges and Court Personnel
Dispositional Alternatives
Other Revisions
Modification of Juvenile Corrections
Strengthening the Family
Changing the Educational System
Redefining Juvenile Delinquency
The Role of the Media in Redefining Delinquency
A Final Note
Summary
Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion
Glossary
References
Photo and Cartoon Credits
Name Index
Subject Index