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Delinquency and Youth Crime

Fourth Edition

Gary F. Jensen and Dean G. Rojek

Jensen and Rojek’s acclaimed text provides a comprehensive examination of theory and research related to delinquency and the evolving philosophy of the juvenile justice system. The authors include new research on capital punishment, religion, variation in gang activities, and a thoughtful examination of data on firearms violence and America’s gun culture. An expanded discussion of sociological schools of thought now includes recent reformulations, elaborations, and attempts at integrating theories.

Delinquency and Youth Crime, 4/E approaches delinquency as one dimension of the overall crime problem, albeit one that provokes much concern and debate. The authors focus on multiple sources of data and attempt to distill general conclusions about consistencies across types of information as well as to explain inconsistencies. Their balanced presentation is designed to facilitate readers’ ability to think critically when confronted with voluminous information relevant to a broad understanding of delinquency. A new glossary offers a handy reference, while dozens of updated graphics will enhance readers’ understanding of research statistics and the trends they suggest.

$37.95 list, 478 pages

10-digit ISBN: 1-57766-516-3

13-digit ISBN: 978-1-57766-516-8

© 2009

Table of Contents

1. Delinquency in Context

Introduction / Youth as a Perennial "Problem" / Juvenile Delinquency and Adult Crime / Why Study Delinquency? / Criminology and the Study of Delinquency / Organizing Our Inquiry

2. Juvenile Justice

Introduction / A Brief Overview of Juvenile Justice / The Discovery of Childhood / The Discovery of Adolescence / Social Change in the Nineteenth Century / The Origins of Juvenile Justice / Juvenile Justice and Key Court Cases / Overview: The Extension of Juvenile Rights / Current Definitions of Delinquency / Continuing Controversy

3. Images of Delinquency: Police and Juvenile Court Statistics

Introduction / Interpreting Crime and Delinquency Data / Uniform Crime Reports: The Crime Index / Uniform Crime Reports: Arrests / Juvenile Court Statistics / Discretion and Discrimination

4. Images of Delinquency: Survey Data

Everyone Does It! I Just Got Caught! / Self-Reports of Delinquency / Patterns Based on Self-Reports / Victimization Surveys / Patterns Based on Victimization Data / Survey Research and the Study of Gangs

5. Explanations of Delinquency: Biology, Psychology, and Learning

Introduction / Searching for Answers / Qualities of a Sound Causal Theory / Biological Schools of Thought / Chromosomal, Glandular, and Neurological Variables / Genetics and Inherited Dispositions / Biology and Delinquency: An Overview / Psychological Schools of Thought / Learning Theories

6. Explanations of Delinquency: Structure, Culture, and Interaction

Sociology and the Study of Delinquency / Conceptions of Delinquency / The Subject Matter of Theories / Sociological Schools of Thought / Contemporary Causal Theories / Theory-Related Research / Additional Perspectives

7. Contexts for Socialization: Family, School, and Peers

Introduction / The Family / Research on the Family and Delinquency / The School / Research on the School and Delinquency / The Peer Group / Mutual Interdependence, Independence, and Causal Sequences

8. Contexts for Socialization: Religion, Media, and Guns

Introduction / Religion and Delinquency / Research on Religion and Delinquency / Mass Media and Delinquency / Research on Media Effects / Firearms and Violence / Research on Firearms and Violence

9. Deterrence and Labeling

Introduction / Deterrence Theory and Explanations of Delinquency / Distinctions in Deterrence Theory / Research on General Deterrence / Labeling Theory / Research on the Specific Effects of Labeling / The Social Meaning of Sanctions

10. Imprisonment and Alternatives

Imprisonment: The Continuing Controversy / Development of the Prison / The Contemporary Scene / The Impact of Correctional Efforts / Evaluating Correctional Experiments / Reaffirmation of Rehabilitation / Focus and Locus / Overview

11. Recent Themes: From Diversion to Boot Camps

Introduction / Diversion / Juvenile Restitution / Shock Therapy / Boot Camps / Restorative Justice

12. Prevention: Dilemmas of Choice, Change, and Control

Introduction / Prevention Revisited / Prevention Experiments / Evaluation Research / Choices: Assessing Our Own Values, Beliefs, and Commitments