Juvenile Delinquency

The first of its kind to integrate theory and "real-world" application in juvenile delinquency, this practical, state-of-the-art text addresses today's most current developments and issues, with probing examinations of: 1) the extent, nature, and origins of American juvenile delinquency; 2) the factors in contemporary life that generate or influence delinquency; and 3) the juvenile justice process and methods for controlling, treating, and preventing delinquency. Presenting a balanced and realistic portrayal of delinquency in the 1990s, the book reports trends and changes in American society and American life related to delinquent behavior, with discussions on the emergence of an "underclass," effects of the mass media, the crisis in American education, the rise in dysfunctional families, sharp increases in serious and violent delinquency, gang formation, violence in the schools, and more. It considers the arenas of juvenile interaction where problems of unacceptable behavior may arise, i.e., the family the school, peer groups, and the community, and studies the incidence of child physical and sexual abuse and the characteristics of its perpetrators. For juvenile institution staff members and treatment personnel; also ideal for case workers, family counselors, and social workers.