An Introduction to the Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency
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David Musick - Author
N/A Hardcover - 348 pages
Release Date: February 1995
ISBN10: 0-7914-2351-4 ISBN13: 978-0-7914-2351-6
Price: $33.95 Paperback - 348 pages
Release Date: February 1995
ISBN10: 0-7914-2352-2 ISBN13: 978-0-7914-2352-3
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Summary
This basic overview of juvenile delinquency in the United States emphasizes the connection between delinquency and other problems faced by "at risk" children in America.
"Musick has written a refreshing, genuinely new text that provides exceptionally clear guidance through the historical, legal, and analytical complexities of defining and explaining delinquency. The book is extremely interesting to read, largely because of the fascinating account of the history of European and American perceptions and treatment of 'problem children.'
"This is the most useful general text on delinquency I have seen because of the clarity with which issues of explanation, method, and policy are sorted out. The use of graph models, charts, and tables to highlight and summarize is superb. Anyone thinking of doing a study, teaching a course, or formulating a policy regarding delinquency should begin with a careful reading of Musick's book." -- Austin T. Turk, University of California, Riverside
This is a challenging book that makes no attempts to oversimplify and trivialize the highly complex subject of juvenile delinquency. Its approach is both conceptual and historical. It includes information not only about delinquents but also about other types of problem children. By doing so, the broader social environment of delinquency is better understood, and delinquency can be put into a more general conceptual context. Fundamental concepts, interpretive perspectives and methodologies that are used to describe and analyze juvenile delinquency and related children's problems are presented.
David Musick is Professor of Sociology at the University of Northern Colorado. He is coauthor of Oppression: A Socio-History of Black/White Relations in America, and American Dilemmas.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part 1. Concepts, Definitions, and Links to the Past
Chapter 1 A Conceptual and Historical Basis for Studying Juvenile Delinquency
Basic Types of Problem Children
Other Important Types of Problem Children
Basic Types of Parent-Child Relationships
Childhood in Preindustrial Italy, France, and England
Summary
Chapter 2 Children's Law and Juvenile Courts in the United States
Children's Law in Colonial America
Nineteenth-Century Children's Law
Twentieth-Century Children's Law
Legal Changes Inspired by Discovery of Child Neglect and Abuse
Midcentury Reduction of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction
Legislative Attempts to Get Tough on Crime
Late-Century News about Abuse and Neglect
Recent Court Decisions Affecting Children
Summary
Part 2. Measuring Delinquincy
Chapter 3. Measuring Delinquency
Uniform Crime Reports
Overview of Juvenile Arrests
A Note on Juvenile Violence
Victimization Surveys
Children's Self-Reports
Summary
Part 3. Explaining Delinquincy
Chapter 4. Clinical and Observational Ideas about American Delinquency
Clinical Ideas
Observational Ideas
Gangs and Delinquency
Summary
Chapter 5 Micro Delinquency Theories
Introduction
Demonism
Free Will
Physical Type Theories
Modern Positivism
Behaviorism
Labeling
Summary
Chapter 6 Macro and Mid-Range Delinquency Theories
Introduction
Conflict versus Consensus Theory
Macro Consensus Theories
Macro Conflict Theories
Midrange Consensus Theories
Midrange Conflict Theories
Summary: Integrating and Evaluating Delinquency Theories
Part 4. Delinquincy and Social Organization
Chapter 7 Kinship Networks, Family Life, and Delinquency
Introduction
Kinship Norms and Delinquency
Rapid Social Change and Delinquency
Delinquency and Family Environment
Summary
Chapter 8 Schools and Delinquency
Introduction
Student Characteristics and Delinquency
Crime in American Schools
Summary
Chapter 9 Police Organizations and Gangs
Introduction
History and Structure of Community-Level Police Organizations
Modern American Youth Gangs and Their Members
Hate Gangs
Gangs and the Police
Police Options with Juveniles
Summary
Chapter 10 Courts and Delinquency
Introduction
Characteristics of Cases Handled by Juvenile Courts
Juvenile Court Process
Adjudication
Disposition Options
Summary
Part 5. Prevention and Correction of Delinquincy
Chapter 11 Community-Based Efforts to Prevent and Correct Delinquency
Introduction
Types of Community-based Prevention and Corrections Programs