Juvenile Justice in America SOC 106 Part 7-1: Communities and Delinquency

Community thought - geographic - people / common interests - legal sense a. Not only geographic region - ‘sense of integration’ - shared values (1) Community - we live - feel apart of

(2) Research - no one cares - disorder / crime (a) “Broken Window Phenomenon” - one un-repaired window - breaking more (b) Police not called - escalate - trash / unkempt vacant lots

(3) Lack of trust - neighbors / police - aggressors - escalate (a) Neighbors not care - not become involved (b) Police involvement - not try b. How youth view

- their world - legitimate: pimp / prostitute / drug pusher - crime / destruction / devastation (1) Community efforts - attempt to change (a) Foster homes - diversion alternatives - victims / delinquents - chance to mend - parental preference

(b) Day treatment - diversion - school settings - evening / weekend - cost effective (c) Alternative schools - non-traditional - 3 hours: morning / afternoon - 19 credits / graduation - drug abuse / anger control - graduation ceremonies

(d) Youth centers - midnight - positive interactions - volunteers (e) Second-chance camps - community based - self-esteem / behavior - pre-delinquent / runaway / homeless (f) Wilderness programs

- self-confidence - maturity - self-preservation Urban disorder - broken window a. Primary thesis - social / physical decay - unchecked - serious crime - quality of life

(1) Social disorder - prostitution / loitering / drinking - drug sales / gangs (2) Physical disorder - trash / graffiti / abandoned cars - needles / syringes / unkempt lawns (a) Affect: insiders / outsiders - move out of area - refuse to move in - avoidance

(b) Directly related - social / physical - mostly unobserved b. Behind crime / disorder (1) Structural characteristics - specific - certain neighborhoods (a) Concentrated poverty - joblessness

(b) Absence social resources - no community services - leave area (c) Immigrant levels - competing - services / jobs (2) Structural constraints - not just economic (a) Ownership vs. transient

- residential stability - dedication (b) Strong socially - know neighbors - help others c. Cohesion / mutual trust - neighborhood social control (1) “Collective efficacy” - intended effect

- greater strength /importance (2) Taking action - willing to help - work with police