Praise for the previous edition:
"...provides a good general introduction to the topic of juvenile crime...recommended for academic and public libraries."—American Reference Books Annual
"A well-done and useful research guide...Recommended."—Choice
"Recommended for school and public libraries. Where high school students do regular research, this is a must add title."—Christian Library Journal
Crime committed by people under the age of 18 draws great public attention and concern. By highlighting the deficits of young people today, it confirms fears of a dangerous society and it stirs sympathies for youth gone astray. Policies and statutes regarding juvenile crime are evolving as Americans struggle with these rival concerns. In Roper v. Simmons (2005), the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to execute offenders for crimes committed when they were younger than 18, but the Court restricted students' free speech rights at public schools in Morse v. Frederick (2007). Meanwhile, U.S. states are calling for more juvenile offenses to be prosecuted in adult courts, a course of action that is condemned by many child psychologists. At the local level, more schools have installed full-time police officers and more jurisdictions are increasing punishments for crimes committed at school.
Juvenile Crime, Revised Edition examines juvenile offenders, their crimes, and the consequences they cause to themselves, their victims, and society. With up-to-date statistics and scholarship, this comprehensive revision gives an overview of the American juvenile justice system, how it works, and its impact on minors.
Coverage includes:
- Up-to-date statistics showing trends in status offenses, youth gangs, rates of drug and alcohol use, and crimes committed in public schools against students ages 12 to 18
- A recent Centers for Disease Control report detailing the effects of transferring youth to adult criminal court, an increasingly common practice
- Evolving scholarly explanations for the problem of delinquency, including female delinquency
- Safford Unified School District v. Redding, in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing school authorities to search the belongings and outer clothing of students but disallowed invasive strip searches
- Reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, now before Congress.