Juvenile Delinquency & Justice

This course examines the historical precedents and philosophical reasons for treating juveniles differently from adults. Students review empirical evidence about child development that can illuminate the reasons for the individual's special status within the system. We also study the major theories that have been proposed as explanations of delinquent behavior. Finally, we take a detailed overview of the juvenile justice system, from its beginnings to the current state of the institution.

Dr. Linda Davis-Stephens, Instructor

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Javier Marin
The Road to Becoming a Game Warden
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My name is Javier Marin and I am 19 years old and have a great amount of joy for nature and the outdoors. I was born and raised in Goodland,Ks and have lived in Goodland for my entire life. Many people do not know of Goodland because it is basically just a small farm town in northwest Kansas, Goodland is located 17 miles from the Colorado boarder. I am a graduate of the 2018 class of Goodland High School.
With living in a small, country town I have always had a love for the outdoors. Being able to drive just a few minutes to shoot some targets with my friends, or even go pheasant hunting has always been something I enjoyed doing. Goodland is not the most ideal place to live if you’re wanting to live close to a fishing area, but there are several large bodies of water within an hours drive that can be used for fishing. Many of the people I hang out with and call my friends commonly enjoy doing the same activities as I do.
As an outdoorsman I am very responsible and respectable of the animals, and nature that is provided to us human beings. This is what I believe to be one of the main reasons I would like to be a Game Warden. I also find great joy in helping others be successful and happy in what they’re trying to accomplish. By being a Game Warden I can insure that outdoorsmen are following the rules and regulations as the law provides, and also make sure they’re in a safe and suitable environment, while under my protection.
When I was only a few years old my parents separated. My father moved off into the eastern part of the state working as a supervisor for road construction, while my mother and I stayed in Goodland so I could go to school and she could continue to work as a manager for service oil. My mother and I have always been close and I have always looked up to her, and want to be as good of a person as she is. My father works a long distance from Goodland, so I don’t get the chance to see him very of often. My mother has never been the type who always likes to go hunting and fishing, although she does like to go fishing, but does not always have the time to take me. One of my really good friends, that I would almost call a father figure to me is my neighbor Jurgen. Ever since I was in grade school I would go over to his house and hang out with him. A majority of the time Jurgen and I would either go Hunting, Fishing, or Camping together. We really got along because we both enjoyed doing the same activities, and being outside.
I am currently going to Colby Community College in Colby,Ks. I am majoring in Wildlife Biology in order to become a Game Warden. Becoming a Game Warden requires four years of schooling and a Bachelors in Natural Resources. A Wardens job is primarily to make sure that outdoorsmen are following the laws and regulations, and also to keep the animals and outdoorsmen safe as well. After I finish my schooling at CCC I plan to go onto a four year university such as FHSU to finish my schooling and get my degree. Being a Game Warden also requires skills in the Criminal Justice background too. So a Warden is also considered a LEO. The job seems to be a much needed position that needs filled in many areas of the United States. I am still undecided of where I may want to live, or work once I have gotten my degree. I have been on several fishing trips to Wisconsin before and have had an absolute great time. Wisconsin is very different from Kansas, the land structure is very more dense with trees and a lot greener. Colorado may also be an option as well, the mountains and land structures are phenomenal. Vast landscapes with snow and trees covering the mountains are very gorgeous. I also can not rule out Kansas though because I have to admit a lot of people may not like it here, but I will forever call it my home.
https://ksoutdoors.com/
https://www.gamewarden.org/

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Lynzee Zeigler
My Photo: http://www.blackyouthproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/juvenile-criminals.jpg

This information is from my first source and it explains how the system has changed and also how it was originally setup.
"The juvenile justice system has grown and changed substantially since 1899, when the nation’s first juvenile court was established in Illinois. Originally, the court process was informal—often nothing more than a conversation between the youth and the judge—and the defendant lacked legal representation. To replace confinement in jails with adults, the early juvenile courts created a probation system and used a separate service-delivery system to provide minors with supervision, guidance, and education. Soon every state and the District of Columbia had followed Illinois’s lead and established a juvenile court. In 1967, in a landmark ruling in the case of In re Gault, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the Constitution requires that youth in the juvenile system have many of the same rights guaranteed to adults accused of crimes, including the right to an attorney and the right to confront witnesses against them. Later, the Supreme Court gave youth constitutional rights to have trials that require proof beyond a reasonable doubt; and gave youth a constitutional right against double jeopardy. (Although some states by statute or court ruling give youth a right to a jury trial, the U.S. Supreme Court held in 1971 that they have no constitutional right to a jury trial.)

Today’s juvenile justice system still maintains rehabilitation as its primary goal and distinguishes itself from the criminal justice system in important ways. With a few exceptions, in most states delinquency is defined as the commission of a criminal act by a child who was under the age of 18 at the time; most states also allow youth to remain under the supervision of the juvenile court until age 21. In lieu of prison, juvenile court judges draw from a range of legal options to meet both the safety needs of the public and the treatment needs of the youth. Unlike adult criminal proceedings, juvenile court hearings are often closed to members of the public and records are often confidential, protecting children from carrying the burdens of their delinquent activity into adulthood. (However, despite what many people believe, juvenile records in most jurisdictions are not automatically sealed or expunged.) Educational and therapeutic programming may be provided in the child’s community or the child may be placed out of the home in a residential program."

I found this bit of History on the second source i have. I think it is very vital information as to why our system is the way it is.
"The primary difference between juvenile courts and adult courts was that the juvenile courts were "civil" in nature while adult courts were "criminal." The benefit of a "civil" proceeding was that the courts could focus on the youth, rather than the alleged offense, and have a range of options geared towards the youth's rehabilitation. The legal doctrine of "parens patriae" formed the foundation of juvenile courts and meant that the State was given the authority to make decisions for the benefit of the child as a parent would. The doctrine of "parens patriae" continues to the present time in the juvenile justice system as well as in schools.

Until the late 1960's, youth in the juvenile court system did not have constitutional legal rights. That changed with the U.S. Supreme Court's 1967 decision in In re Gault. In that case, the Supreme Court concluded that even though juvenile courts were civil proceedings, juveniles subject to these proceedings still faced a potential loss of liberty. For that reason, the Supreme Court required that all youth offenders involved in juvenile court proceedings and facing possible confinement have the following constitutional rights:

The right to receive notice of charges
The right to obtain legal counsel
The right to confrontation and cross-examination
The privilege against self-incrimination
The right to receive a transcript of the proceedings, and
The right to have an appellate court review the lower court's decision.

On the heels of the In re Gault decision, the U.S. Congress passed the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention and Control Act in 1968. That Act required states to develop plans designed to address and curb juvenile delinquency in the community in order to receive federal funding."

My Sources: http://www.jlc.org/news-room/media-resources/youth-justice-system-overview
http://www.djs.state.md.us/history.asp

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Zachary motley
youth lifestyle in Chicago

Growing up in south side Chicago is one of the most dangerous things. As a kid you have so many risk factors such as the people you hang out with and when you are gonna be a target for a gang.
These are things no kid should experience but some aren't so lucky. If you are not in a gang you are not safe. That's just the rules in Chicago its the way of life. There no one is safe from anything.
It was hard growing up. But you learn how to do it so fast. I'm talking about kids at the age of 14, walking around with guns kids at the age of 16, pulling car jackings—things you wouldn't see in other places as much for youth in south-side Chicago. It's what they know to do to survive to make it to tomorrow.

http://kfor.com/2015/12/09/chicago-police-killing-of-unarmed-teen-unjustified-fired-investigator-says/
https://youtu.be/AAA3aQt4AGQ

The Reasoning Behind Delinquency

Tahnee Saxton
9/30/15

Juveniles don’t turn delinquent just because they want to. There is always a reason for why they are acting out. I think that the world targets juveniles in the system as being “born that way, born to be criminals”. We have to remember that these delinquents are kids. Do they understand what they are doing? Are they acting out of need? Are they acting out in a way which they have been forced to act? Are they victimized? The answer to all of these questions is yes. Every juvenile delinquent has a reason. They weren’t born criminals. There are many factors that make them act out with criminal behavior, we just need to understand it.

When Coach Edwards came and spoke to our class, he introduced another way to look at the factors that create young criminals. This is with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. It is a pyramid split into five sections, each with a list of factors that juveniles need. At the base of the pyramid is the “physiological needs” portion, meaning air, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. Coach Edwards stated that kids will steal because their home situation does not provide food, water, or clothing. They steel to survive, not for fun. Kids in the system are most likely getting less than half of the physiological needs that are necessary to survive.

The next portion is labeled “safety and security”. This includes health, employment, property, family, and social stability. Youth in broken or poor families have no sense of safety or security. They will act mindlessly to gain this security, like carrying a gun or a knife on the street. They aren’t carrying that gun because it makes them feel cool, they are carrying it to feel safe from all of the other guns on the street.
The next level is “love and belonging”, which includes friendship, family, intimacy, and a sense of connection. This is a huge contributor to teen crime. In homes where a kid does not feel loved or appreciated is a home where delinquency originates. When a kid’s mom spends all of the welfare money on her next hit of cocaine, the kid gets left with nothing. This is when they join gangs on the street, or any group, so that they can have a sense of belonging. So that they can be noticed for once in their life.

The level above that is the “self-esteem” bracket. This includes confidence, achievement, and the respect of others. Honestly self-confidence it almost out of reach for a kid that falls into all of these other portions of maslow’s pyramid. When we feel comfortable in our own skin we don’t feel the need to impress other people, or fear their judgement. Every kid with a low self-esteem is more likely to act out for an image, for friends, or even for an accomplishment they can call their own.

The tip of the pyramid is called “self-actualization”. This includes morality, creativity, spontaneity, and acceptance. Delinquents don’t have this portion at all. Each level builds on each other, and if a kid lacks in the beginning stages, he or she does not have a chance at the top of the pyramid.
It is sad to think that our youth act out because of basic needs and belonging. This is a huge lesson to every parent out there. A child will be ten times more successful if he or she has been taken care of with love. That doesn’t mean just with money, but to actually spend time with them and let them know that someone cares for them is what every child needs.

http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/juvenile-offenders-risk-factors/

Jessica Moss

Juveniles and Gangs Alike

Gangs are common are relevant among people of all ages. In the juvenile world they have become a growing problem on the streets, in schools, neighborhoods, and in juvenile hall. The laws have in place for this problem have become stricter, and juveniles can easily be tried in court as adults for heinous crimes. The death penalty has even been debated on in some states as whether it is ethical or not. If the crimes committed are not serious, the majority of the time the system focuses on rehabilitating the juveniles instead of incarcerating them.
There are a number of reasons as to why juveniles decide to join gangs. Those who are raised in poverty stricken areas where gangs are very well known on the streets tend to be more high risk than juveniles who are raised in classier homes and neighborhoods. Gangs also provide a sense of belonging and acceptance for children raised in abusive, and neglected households. This makes it very dangerous particularly dangerous for females since they risk ending up in sex trafficking as a result of joining a street gang or organization.

Juveniles are known to be risk takers by nature so they tend to not think over the risks of being killed, kidnapped, or imprisoned. A seemingly great advantage to gangs is also the income. Those who get into selling drugs, prostitutes, weapons, etc. find themselves earning much more than they would be earning in a minimum wage job. Gangs make life seem like an easier route instead of having to work in order to accomplish goals and live financially securely.
Gangs continue to be an issue among many communities and neighborhoods. Parents and schools are encouraged to take action by playing as an active role model in the juveniles’ lives in order to prevent them from making bad decisions that could possibly affect them for the rest of their lives.

http://www.correctionsone.com/juvenile-offenders/articles/6395023-Juveniles-and-gangs-Prevention-through-education/

http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/makingadiffer/critical_3.html

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Fatoumatta Darboe

Juvenile Delinquency and Justice
The vast majority of children, even those who live in the most dire circumstances, never commit crimes, are never picked up by the police, are never taken to court and are never adjudicated delinquent. Even among those juveniles who are arrested, most never come back to court a second time. The rising wave of juvenile crime that has created a climates of fear in our schools and our communities is the result of increasingly violent acts committed by only a handful of young offenders. For these children who do become involved with the court, the Governor 's Crime Commission is recommend changes to the Juvenile justice system that will hold juveniles more accountable for their actions. Many juveniles offenders come to the attention of the courts, social services agencies, and school administrators when they are very young, with effective and innovative family and community based intervention programs, they can be deterred from g=further delinquent activity. Early intervention cab reduce rate of juvenile delinquency. The policies recommended by the governor's crime commission encourage early identification of those most likely to become serious persistent delinquents, and support and recommend the programs they preserve and reinforce positive community ties. Implementing these policies will not be easy, but the result will be rewarding. Programs will also not be cost free, but they can be cost effective. The commission recommends policies designed to improve cooperation, coordination and information sharing among agencies serving juveniles. Through these system changes, efficiency and services will improve and the duplication of effort that currently exists will be eliminated. Judges in every judicial district need a system of graduated sanctions sentencing options that can be varied and applied so that each new delinquent act is followed by an increased sanction. Juveniles have to learn that actions have consequences, these sanctions should include secure programs in every judicial district for juveniles, who need short term confinement. Programs work best when they are local. Training schools should be reserved for those juveniles needing long term confinement. In the last four years, North Carolina's total arrest rate for juvenile ages fifteen and under has increased 52 percent. The juvenile arrest rate for weapons violation has risen 138 percent in the last four yer, and homicide arrest risen 23 percent in the year, These rates alarm the public but worse the strain an already over burdened juvenile justice system that lacks the capability to effectively intervene early in the career of our juvenile offenders. Graduated sanctions are one approach to more effective intervention. For appropriate sanctions are available for first and second time offenders who could benefit form a broader array of flexible intervention strategies. Instead, the juvenile justice system concentrated service on serious youthful offenders, some of whom could benefit from graduated sanctions. This type of system combines treatment and rehabilitation with fair, reasonable. and appropriate sanctions. It increases the juvenile justice system;s responsiveness while increasing juvenile accountability. Although the program should be flexible. More juvenile courts counselors are needed so that more courts involved juveniles can receive intensive service. To meet this need, the governor;s crime commission recommends and supports the expansion budget request of the juvenile service division of the administrative office of the courts for more juvenile court counselors. Courts involved juveniles who have intensive Collins while on probation generally have a lower rate of recidivism because intensive counselors normally have smaller caseloads and can devote more time to each child. These counselors are better able to detect a child;s problems, offer early intervention and seek the service that each need. Every adjudicated juvenile delinquency should be sanctioned by the juvenile justice system, At present far too many juvenile offenders receive no punishment the fist few times they come to court, In many ares of the state there are few alternatives between a slap on the wrist and confinement in a detention center or training school. Juvenile restitution and other accountability programs offer judges a meaningful cost effective sanction to impose om nonviolent first time juvenile offenders. For many juvenile, a brief stay in a detention center may be easier than being forced to face their victims and consequences of their criminal acts
https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Juvenile+Delinquency+And+Justice&qpvt=juvenile+delinquence+and+justice&FORM=EWRE
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/17/attorney-delay-likely-in-hearing-on-moving-teen-case-in-mother-slaying-to/
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/01/nyregion/juvenile-justice-if-the-system-works-end-it.html

page revision: 79, last edited: 23 Nov 2020 20:36

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Dr. Linda Davis-Stephens, Instructor

The Reasoning Behind Delinquency