Juvenile Delinquency, A History (Notes) PDF

Juvenile Delinquency, A History  Social Construction: Youth & Delinquency Ideas about youth and misbehavior, and what to do about youth and misbehavior, Difficult to generalize because they are differently in different places and cultures around the world Notion of d...

Juvenile Delinquency, A History  Social Construction: Youth & Delinquency Ideas about youth and misbehavior, and what to do about youth and misbehavior, Difficult to generalize because they are differently in different places and cultures around the world Notion of did not always exist—it was created in light of social and economic changes that necessitated a new, more extended, experience of childhood  Social Construction: Youth & Delinquency The concept of juvenile delinquency emerged out of a particular vision of what it is to be a kid or young adult Systems of justice were developed to address the special needs of youth labeled as “juvenile delinquents” Popular ideas about youth and their behaviors have been shaped by history and culture, as well as by race, class, and gender biases and concerns  Ancient Times and the Middle Ages (776 BCE–1400 CE) Society was heavily , living and working together in large groups Very little distinction made between human beings based upon Children were treated as the property of their fathers, corporal punishment was common, and youth were often beaten harshly Once a person turned years of age, s/he was for all intents and purposes considered an  Ancient Times and the Middle Ages (776 BCE–1400 CE) Life was not easy for children Often subjected to practices of abuse and neglect that resulted in Those who did survive engaged in many of the same activities that adults did, including drinking alcohol, gambling, and engaging in sexual behavior. restrained behavior  The Colonial and Revolutionary Period (late 1400s–1800s) Notable during this period resulted in tradition of having youth work at a young age Gender-based distinctions developed and boys were encouraged to develop their skill sets Girls were encouraged to learn to serve and care for others by becoming were seen as the primary source for disciplining youth and educating them.  The Colonial and Revolutionary Period (late 1400s–1800s) The English Common Law tradition focused upon whether youth were capable of needed to preplan an act of wrongdoing As society began shifting from an agrarian to an industrial economy, a shift in ideas about youth followed Creation of schools to help expand learning Adults from privileged social classes became concerned about  The “Child Saving” Era, the Industrial Revolution, and the Creation of the Juvenile Court (1800s–early 1900s) Organized efforts to address the issues of youth were undertaken such as the Society of Friends (commonly known as the Quakers) During the 1820s, institutions were created to provide youth with the discipline-– Chicago Reform School – 1859 Annual Report  The “Child Saving” Era… Black children in free states were generally to the houses of refuge, but in the cases in which they were, they were segregated and treated as less important than the white youth Black youth treated as and were typically housed in It was not until 1850, that a house of refuge designed specifically for black children was created in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. First House of Refuge for girls opened in MA in 1856  The “Child Saving” Era… View of youth was in transition Shifting views of childhood and parenting Critique of Houses of Refuge Prison-like Development of Juvenile Courts Enhanced control over youth  Views of Youth and Delinquency in the Juvenile Court (1899–present) Views of youth from 1890s to 1960s 1960s represented shift in American culture Social movements, such as the civil rights movement, the peace movement (also known as the anti–Vietnam War movement), the feminist movement, and the gay rights movement Others were threatened by the social unrest and were looking to get on juvenile misbehavior.  Views of Youth and Delinquency in the Juvenile Court (Present Day) Views of youth and delinquency are an exercise in contradictions Special focus: Moral Panics  Moral Panics and Youth Moral panics: a heightened concern over an issue that is not These scares typically share a number of elements: Community members pick up on the information, often enhancing the concern Rinse and repeat  Moral Panics and Youth Frequent targets: Art Books/Comic books Movies Music Videogames Concern over viewing/engaging in similar acts Who cares?