1. Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
Chapter 11

2. History of the Juvenile Courts
Focus on rehabilitation
Disposition fit the offender not the offense
Lacking culpability
No formal protections of due process
Kent v. United States
Assistance of counsel
In re Gault (1967)
All protections under the Bill of Rights
Due process
Perception of increase in juvenile crime

3. Processing in Juvenile Courts
Law enforcement contact
Intake
Hearing
Formal report conducted by the probation officer
Judge orders a sentence if the juvenile is found ‘delinquent’

4. Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Offenses
Behavior against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not reached adulthood
Most crimes are property crimes (45%), crimes against person (23%), crimes against public order (21%), drug offenses (11%)
Juvenile crime is at its lowest in 20 years
Offenders are becoming younger
More are sent to adult courts
Increase in crime among girls

5. Status offenses Property crimes (1/3 of juvenile arrests) Curfew
Loitering
Property crimes (1/3 of juvenile arrests)
Burglary (1/4 of all juvenile offenses)
Theft
Arson

6. Risk Factors for Juvenile Delinquency
Individual
Substance abuse, mental health concerns, impulsivity, and poor problem solving
Family
Poor parental attachment, lack of parental supervision, and harsh ineffective discipline
School
Academic difficulty, unrecognized learning disabilities, poor school attendance, academic dissatisfaction
Delinquent Peers and Gang membership
Offense history predict recidivism

7. Protective Factors Intelligence
Negative attitudes toward delinquent behavior
Sociability/positive temperament
Positive family influence
Close relationship with a family member
School environment
Commitment to and participation in activities
Educational achievement

8. Juvenile Violence
Juvenile violence is higher than in previous generations and is high in industrialized countries
Homicide is the leading cause of death among Hispanics and African-Americans
Violent crime almost over 30 years

9. Risk Factors for Nonsexual Violence
Individual
impulsivity, hyperactivity, poor behavioral control greater risk taking, attentional problems, reduced intelligence, poor educational performance
Family
Parental with prior criminal history, low attachment, harsh discipline, poor supervision, child abuse, low socioeconomic status, family conflicts
Delinquent Peers and Gang membership
Neighborhood
Urban area, availability of drugs and guns

10. Risk Factors for Sexual Violence
19% of rapes are by males under 19 years
1/3 of child molesters are juveniles
2-14% reoffending rate
Risk Factors for reoffending
Acquaintance of the victim
Not receiving any form of treatment
Less severe initial offenses
Younger offender
Little is known about female juvenile perpetrators

11. Role of Forensic Psychologists in Juvenile Court
Evaluate treatment amenability
Systemic functioning important
Identify treatment needs
Provide Treatment
Multi-modal interventions
Multi-systemic Therapy
Transfer Evaluations
Transfers to criminal courts

12. Competency Evaluations Insanity Evaluations Risk assessment
Developmental immaturity is a factor
Insanity Evaluations
Extremely rare in juvenile cases
Risk assessment
Threat assessments
Early Assessment Risk List (EARL)
Structured Assessment of Violent Risk in Youth (SAVRY)

13. Special Issues in Regard to Juveniles: School Violence
School Violence and School Shooting
School shootings peaked 1990s and decreased after 1998
Violent crime has decreased in schools
Use of school shooter profiles are ineffective
Threat Assessment
Specific form of risk assessment
Encourages identification of precise actions associated with behaving violently