CRJS 303 Juvenile Criminal Justice (3 credits hours): This course discusses the development of the American juvenile justice system and the current issues impacting this ever-evolving aspect of criminality. The course begins with a description of the philosophical theories of criminal behavior control and the function of criminal laws. Next, the course will examine various factors that contribute to delinquent behavior and impact adolescent development. During the second half of the course, the roles of law enforcement, corrections, and the courts in the juvenile justice system will be explored. While the first half of the course focuses on theory and philosophy of juvenile justice, the second half of the course provides “practical” aspects of the various points of contact for youth in the juvenile justice system.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
- Define juvenile delinquency from a legal and sociological perspective and create and document a history of delinquency in America
- Distinguish between the theories of sexual deviance.
- Differentiate between the various theories of delinquency and discuss how culture, diversity, social stratification, families, schools, neighborhoods, and peers may play a role in delinquent behavior.
- Discuss classical and contemporary research on the etiology of juvenile delinquency, with reference to original sources.
- Explain the roles of the police and correctional institutions within the juvenile justice system.
- Critically evaluate the impact of juvenile justice policy, including strategies to deal with such issues as violence, gangs, drugs, and firearms.