Sections V & VI
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
The Juvenile Court Process
 1. Based on your reading, what factors do
you believe might explain the
disproportionate representation of Black
youth in U.S. juvenile courts?
 What juvenile justice policy changes or
special programs would you recommend to
address this issue?
The Juvenile Court Process
 2. What are some arguments for and against
all juveniles having defense counsel in court?
Should juveniles who are committed to a
correctional institution be able to waive their
right to counsel? Why, or why not?
The Juvenile Court Process
 3. Is it surprising that juveniles who are
represented by a defense attorney often get
harsher punishments than juveniles without
an attorney?
 Based on the readings, what are some
possible reasons for that research finding?
The Juvenile Court Process
 4. If a lawmaker in your state introduced
legislation to abolish the juvenile court and
try juveniles in adult court with a “youth
discount” during sentencing, how would you
argue for or against the proposal?
Juvenile Corrections
 1. Based on the available research, what do
you see as the strengths and limitations of
juvenile institutions and residential
placement?
 What types of juvenile offenders are most
appropriate for those facilities and
placements?
Juvenile Corrections
 2. As a new probation officer, you are
assigned a beginning caseload of 30 juvenile
offenders, ranging from first-time offenders
with single occurrences of property offenses
or drug violations, to second- and third-time
offenders with several prior arrests and some
history of probation violations.
 What probation officer roles are you likely to
use with various types of offenders?
Juvenile Corrections
 3. Imagine you have been appointed to your
State Youth Commission, and the governor
has asked for recommendations for the “best
practices” that have shown effectiveness in
juvenile corrections.
 List the five most important points you would
offer.
Section V & VI Articles
Origins of the Juvenile Court
 What are some
of the expectations that guided the first
Juvenile Courts?
The Punitive Juvenile Court and the Quality
of Procedural Justice
 Are juvenile offenders
entitled to counsel in
juvenile delinquency
proceedings? If so do they
consistently receive
appropriate legal counsel?
Factors Perceived to Affect Delinquent
Dispositions in Juvenile Court
 What was the
research design and methodology for this
study? What were the findings?
Race, Legal Representation and
Juvenile Justice
 According to this study, does the
type/presence of counsel vary by the 'race'
of the juvenile?
Reexamining Community Corrections
Models
 What are the Three Models of
Community Corrections?
The Impact of Boot Camps and Traditional
Institutions on Juvenile Residents
 In your opinion, is the Boot Camp Model
effective?
Why? Why not??
The Next Generation of Prisoners
 What are some factors affecting the onset and
continuance of juvenile violence?
Adolescent and Teenage Offenders Confronting
the Challenges and Opportunities of Reentry
 What are the factors that may
complicate reentry for teen offenders?