Juvenile Delinquency Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is poverty?

According to the United States Census Bureau, about 37 million people living in America can be classified as poor, 13 million of them as children.

What does ego identity refer to?

Ego identity is formed when persons develop a firm sense of who they are and what they stand for according to Erik Erikson.

What occurs during role diffusion?

Role diffusion occurs when youths spread themselves too thin and experience personal uncertainty.

Who are at-risk youths?

Young people who are extremely vulnerable to the negative consequences of school failure, substance abuse, and early sexuality. Signup and view all the answers

What is juvenile delinquency?

Participation in illegal behavior by a minor who falls under a statutory age limit. Signup and view all the answers

What defines chronic juvenile offenders?

Youths who have been arrested four or more times during their minority and perpetuate a striking majority of serious criminal acts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the juvenile justice system?

The segment of the justice system designed to treat youthful offenders. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a paternalistic family?

A family style wherein the father is the final authority on all family matters. Signup and view all the answers

What were poor laws?

English statutes that allowed the courts to appoint overseers for destitute and neglected children. Signup and view all the answers

What were chancery courts designed to do?

Oversee the lives of highborn minors who were orphaned or otherwise could not care for themselves. Signup and view all the answers

What is parens patriae?

The power of the state to act on behalf of the child and provide care and protection equivalent to that of a parent. Signup and view all the answers

Who were child savers?

Nineteenth-century reformers who developed programs for troubled youth. Signup and view all the answers

What is a delinquent?

A juvenile who has been adjudicated by a judicial office of a juvenile court as having committed a delinquent act. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the best interest of the child?

A philosophical viewpoint that encourages the state to take control of wayward children. Signup and view all the answers

What does the need for treatment criterion indicate?

Juveniles are treated according to their need for treatment rather than the seriousness of the delinquent act. Signup and view all the answers

What is a waiver in juvenile justice?

Transferring legal jurisdiction over serious juvenile offenders to the adult court for criminal prosecution. Signup and view all the answers

What is a status offense?

Conduct that is illegal only because the child is underage. Signup and view all the answers

What are Wayward Minors?

The early legal designation of youths who violate the law because of their minority status. Signup and view all the answers

Define a child in legal terms.

An individual under the age of 18 years old. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)?

Branch of the US justice department charged with shaping national juvenile justice policy. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of adolescents meet current physical activity recommendations?

35% Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of youths do not have health insurance?

10% Signup and view all the answers

What family problems plague American youth?

Family dissolution and disruption. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of fourth graders are not reading at the appropriate grade level?

70% Signup and view all the answers

What is cyberbullying?

Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the medium of electronic text. Signup and view all the answers

What is the downside of parens patriae?

Few procedural protections for juveniles. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Poor Laws (1536) entail?

Placed children as servants in the homes of the affluent. Signup and view all the answers

What was created by the Elizabeth Poor Laws (1601)?

A system of church wardens and overseers was created. Signup and view all the answers

What characterized reform schools?

They were racially and sexually segregated with harsh discipline and poor physical care. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Children's Aid Society (1953) do?

Rescued children from harsh environments and provided them with temporary shelter. Signup and view all the answers

What were orphan trains?

Placed neglected or abused children on western farms for care and to find a home. Signup and view all the answers

What was the significance of The Illinois Juvenile Court Act (1899)?

It made the distinction between children who were neglected and those who were delinquent. Signup and view all the answers

What year marked the establishment of juvenile courts in every state?

1925 Signup and view all the answers

What year was the U.S. Children's Bureau formed?

1912 Signup and view all the answers

What happened in 1962 regarding family court systems?

New York passed legislation creating a family court system. Signup and view all the answers

What defines status offenders?

A child can become subject to state authority for committing actions that would not be illegal if committed by an adult. Signup and view all the answers

What did the U.S. Congress do in 1974 regarding juvenile justice?

Passed the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Act, authorized to distribute grants and support for alternate procedural methods. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Terms and Definitions

Poverty: Approximately 37 million Americans live in poverty, with 13 million being children.
Ego Identity: Formed when individuals, according to Erik Erikson, develop a clear understanding of themselves and their values.
Role Diffusion: Erik Erikson describes this as youth spreading themselves too thin, leading to uncertainty and dependence on external figures for identity.
At-Risk Youths: Refers to young individuals vulnerable to negative outcomes like school failure and substance abuse.
Juvenile Delinquency: Engaging in illegal activities by minors who fall below a specific statutory age.
Chronic Juvenile Offenders: A small group, encompassing about 6% of youth, who have been arrested four or more times and tend to continue criminal behavior into adulthood.
Juvenile Justice System: Comprises law enforcement, courts, and correctional agencies focused on rehabilitating youthful offenders.
Paternalistic Family: A family dynamic where the father has complete control and authority over family decisions.
Poor Laws: English statutes allowing courts to appoint overseers for underprivileged children, often placing them into servitude.
Chancery Courts: Established in 15th-century England to oversee the welfare of highborn minor orphans.

Legal and Institutional Concepts

Parens Patriae: The state's authority to act in the best interests of children, providing care similar to that of a parent.
Child Savers: 19th-century reformers focused on creating programs for troubled youth, sometimes criticized for prioritizing control over welfare.
Delinquent: A juvenile formally adjudicated for committing a delinquent act.
Best Interest of the Child: A philosophy advocating for state intervention in the care and treatment of wayward children.
Need for Treatment: Sentencing for juveniles based on their treatment needs rather than the severity of their offenses.
Waiver: The process of transferring serious juvenile cases to adult courts for prosecution.

Youth Statistics and Issues

Status Offense: Actions illegal solely due to the offender's age.
Wayward Minors: Historical term for youth violating laws due to their minor status.
Youth Under 18: Defined as children in various legal contexts.

Agencies and Legislative Milestones

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP): US Justice Department branch responsible for national juvenile justice policy and funding.
35% of Adolescents: Meet current physical activity recommendations.
10% of Youths: Approximately 7.5 million children lack health insurance.
Family Problems: Issues like family dissolution impact American youth significantly.
70% of Fourth Graders: Not reading at grade level, indicating educational challenges.

Historical Context

Cyberbullying: Defined as deliberate harm to others through electronic mediums.
Downside of Parens Patriae: Limited procedural protections for juveniles, viewed as barriers to rehabilitation.
Poor Laws (1536): Mandated the placement of children as servants in affluent households.
Elizabeth Poor Laws (1601): Established a system to care for impoverished children through church wardens.
Reform Schools: Characterized by poor conditions, harsh discipline, and segregation.
Children's Aid Society (1853): Aimed to rescue children from harsh conditions and provide shelter.
Orphan Trains: An initiative placing neglected children on farms in the West for care and homes.
The Illinois Juvenile Court Act (1899): Established distinctions between neglected and delinquent children.
Juvenile Courts: By 1925, created in every state to address juvenile offenses.
U.S. Children's Bureau (1912): The first federal agency dedicated to child welfare.
Family Court System: Established in New York in 1962 for handling family-related cases.
Status Offenders: Youth can be subject to state authority for actions not considered illegal for adults.
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Act (1974): Allowed grant distribution to states developing alternative juvenile procedures.

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Study key concepts from Chapter 1 of Juvenile Delinquency with these flashcards. Learn important terms such as poverty, ego identity, and role diffusion. Ideal for quick revision and enhancing your understanding of juvenile delinquency issues.