Juvenile Delinquency: A Sociological Approach

Juvenile Delinquency, Eleventh Edition, discusses delinquency as it relates to and emerges from the youth's family, neighborhood, school, peer group, social class, and overall cultural and social environment. Balancing theory with application, the authors explore the different causes of juvenile delinquency, examine its behaviors and consequences in social contexts, explain the role of the police and court system, and propose strategies for treatment and prevention. Interdisciplinary scholarship from sociologists, psychologists, social workers, criminologists, and other specialists who have sought to understand, explain, control, and prevent juvenile delinquency is incorporated throughout the text. Learning outcomes offer students a roadmap for major concepts and key ideas while end-of-chapter outcomes assessments stimulate critical thinking and discussion. In each chapter, “Global Focus on Delinquency” boxes look at delinquency in different societies, cultures, and subcultures and “Controversial Issue” boxes address critical questions. New to This Edition: New Chapter, “Female and LGBTQ Delinquency and Feminist Theories” emphasizes often overlooked female delinquency and juvenile delinquency in the LGBTQ+ communityNew and updated coverage of the media and social media is incorporated throughout the book to highlight one of the most important influences on juvenile delinquency todayNew discussion of transnational gangs and their influence both within and across national borders highlights a global rise in nationalism (Chapter 12)Updated coverage of video gaming and violence, cyberbullying, school shootings, drug usage, drinking, smoking, and vaping is presented and analyzed to keep students up to date on contemporary issues

Table of Contents:
Figures, Tables, and Boxes Preface 1 A Sociological Approach to Juvenile Delinquency Learning Outcomes What Is Juvenile Delinquency? Who Is a Juvenile? The Creation of Adolescence The First Juvenile Court What Is Delinquency? The Legal Definition The Role Definition Marginality The Societal Response Definition The Role of Mass Media and Social Media in Defining Delinquency A Synthesized Sociolegal Definition of Delinquency The Sociological Perspective Norms: Folkways, Mores, Laws, and Taboos Folkways Mores Laws Taboos Normative Behavior: Conformity Deviant Behavior: Nonconformity and Range of Tolerance Voluntary Social Control Informal Social Control Formal Social Control Negative Aspects of Deviance Positive Aspects of Deviance Juvenile Delinquency as a Social Problem Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 2 Dimensions of Juvenile Delinquency Learning Outcomes Mass Media and Social Media as Sources of Delinquency (Mis)Information Juvenile Delinquency Data Validity and Reliability Validity Reliability Official Sources of Delinquency Information FBI Uniform Crime Reports Juvenile Arrests for Specific Offenses Sex and Gender Factors in Juvenile Delinquency Racial and Ethnic Factors in Juvenile Delinquency Place of Residence and Arrest Statistics Juvenile Court Statistics Methodology Findings Limitations of Official Delinquency Data Arrest Statistics The Dark Figure of Crime and Delinquency Juvenile Court Statistics Unofficial Sources of Delinquency Information Self-Report Studies Victimization Surveys The Magnitude and Trends of Juvenile Delinquency Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 3 Classical, Biological, and Psychogenic Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency Learning Outcomes The Link Between Biology and Behavior: Myths and Folklore The Classical School of Criminological Thought The Positive School of Criminology Twentieth-Century Constitutional Typologies The Continuing Search for a Biological Connection Genetic Crime Causation: The XYY Hypothesis Diet and Deviant Behavior Brain Malfunctions and Neurological Disorders The Teenage Brain Sociobiological Explanations The Psychogenic Approach and the Medical Model Discovery of the Unconscious and the Formation of Personality Freudian Theory as an Explanation of Crime and Delinquency The Medical Model: Delinquent Acts as Symptoms Conduct Disorders and Risk/Needs Assessment Other Psychogenic Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency Flawed Personality: Psychopathology and Sociopathology Adolescent Identity Crisis Insufficient Moral Development Media Violence, Video Games, and Aggressive Behavior Predictors of Youth Violence Evaluation of the Biological and Psychogenic Approaches Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 4 Social Strain and Cultural Transmission Theories Learning Outcomes Social Strain Theories Durkheim’s Concept of Anomie Merton’s Theory of Anomie Cohen’s “Delinquent Boys” Cloward and Ohlin’s “Delinquency and Opportunity” Agnew’s General Strain Theory Evaluations of Social Strain Theories Cultural Transmission Theories Sellin’s Theory of Culture Conflict Burgess’ Concentric Zone Theory Shaw and McKay’s “High Delinquency Areas” Miller’s Focus on Lower-Class Culture Cultural Efficacy Theory Evaluation of Cultural Transmission Theories The Media, Social Strain, and Transmission of Cultural Values Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 5 Social Learning and Social Control Theories Learning Outcomes Social Learning Theories Sutherland and Cressey’s Theory of Differential Association Glaser’s Concept of Differential Identification Social Learning and the Media Akers’ Theory of Differential Reinforcement Evaluation of Social Learning Theories Social Control Theories Reckless’ Containment Theory Sykes and Matza’s Techniques of Neutralization Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory Religiosity and Juvenile Delinquency Evaluation of Social Control Theories Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 6 Labeling and Radical/Conflict Theories Learning Outcomes Labeling Theories Early Contributions to Labeling Theory Tannenbaum’s Concept of “Tagging” Lemert’s Primary and Secondary Deviance Becker’s Developmental Career Model What’s in a Name? Evaluation of Labeling Theories Radical/Conflict Theories The Marxian Heritage Quinney’s Social Reality of Crime and Delinquency Greenberg’s Focus on Adolescent Frustration Schwendingers’ Instrumental Theory Evaluation of Radical/Conflict Theories Media Role in Labeling Delinquents and Defining Delinquency Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 7 Integrated Theories: Maturation/Life-Course and Rational Choice/Deterrence Learning Outcomes Maturation and Life-Course Theories Short-Run Hedonism: “Delinquency Is Fun!” Media Portrayals of Delinquency as Fun Spontaneous Remission, or “Aging Out” Life-Course versus Adolescence-Limited Offenders Antisocial Potential: ICAP Theory Evaluation of Maturation and Life-Course Theories Rational Choice Theory and Deterrence Theories Rational Choice Theory Deterrence Theory: The Punishment Response Evaluation of Rational Choice and Deterrence Theories Back to the Future: Prospects for Grand Theory Building Gottfredson and Hirschi’s General Theory of Crime and Delinquency Control Balance Theory Other Integrative Theories of Delinquency and the Search for a Grand Theory Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 8 Female and LGBTQ Delinquency and Feminist Theories Learning Outcomes Sex, Gender, and Delinquency Female Delinquency Status Offenses, Runaways, and Juvenile Prostitution Female Gangs and Violent Crimes Explaining Female Delinquency Traditional Sociological Theories and Female Delinquency Female Delinquency, Strain, and Cultural Transmission Social Learning Theories and Socialization Social Control, Self-Control, Girls, and Social Bonds Labeling, Conflict Theories, and Female Delinquency Feminist Theories of Crime and Delinquency Liberation Hypothesis Odd Girl Out Theory Intersectionality and Delinquency Evaluation of Theories of Female Delinquency Juvenile Delinquency in the LGBTQ Community Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 9 Family and Delinquency Learning Outcomes The Changing Role of the Family Increasing Importance of the Nuclear Family and the Creation of “Adolescence” The Family as an Agent of Socialization Families and the Media Mothers Working Outside the Home and Juvenile Delinquency Other Family Variables and Juvenile Delinquency Social Class Family Size and Birth Order Family Interaction Parental Discipline Single-Parent Families and Delinquency The Family and Delinquency Prevention Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 10 Schools and Delinquency Learning Outcomes The School as an Arena Schools and the Socialization Process Juvenile Delinquency and the School Experience Schools as a Screening Device Schools as “Combat Zones” Vandalism and Destruction Violence and Personal Attacks School Shootings Bullying and Cyberbullying School Safety and “Zero Tolerance” Schools and Delinquency Prevention Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 11 Youth Subcultures and Delinquency Learning Outcomes Culture, Subcultures, and Countercultures The Creation of a Youth Subculture Role of the Youth Subculture Distinctive Elements of the Youth Subculture Youth Values Tattoos and Body Piercing Dress, Grooming, and Fads Mass Media, Social Media, and Technology Sexting Language (Argot) The Youth Subculture and Juvenile Delinquency Juveniles, Drugs, Drinking, Smoking, and Vaping Juveniles and Sex The Straight Edgers Youth Countercultures and Delinquency Teenage Satanic Groups Youth Hate Groups The Youth Subculture and Delinquency Prevention Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 12 Juvenile Gangs and Delinquency Learning Outcomes Play Groups and Group Delinquency Juvenile Gangs What Is a Gang? History of Youth Gangs Media Portrayals of Gangs Transnational Gangs Youth Gangs in the United States Motives for Gang Membership Initiation Rituals Gang Organization The Near Group Gang Graffiti, Argot/Slanguage, and Symbols Composition of Gang Membership Social Class Racial/Ethnic Composition of Gangs Gang Violence Gang Intervention and Prevention Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 13 Juveniles and the Police Learning Outcomes Juvenile Encounters with Police Policing Juveniles Law Enforcement Role Crime Prevention Role Media Images of Police and Law Enforcement Police Discretion in Handling Juveniles Legal Factors Seriousness of the Offense Prior Police Contacts Evidence Complainant Extralegal Factors Age Sex and Gender Race and Ethnicity Socioeconomic Status Appearance, Attitude, and Demeanor of the Juvenile Willingness of Parents to Cooperate Characteristics of the Police Officer Police and Due Process Police, Community Policing, and Delinquency Prevention Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 14 Juvenile Courts and Corrections Learning Outcomes Historical Background of the Juvenile Court The Child Savers Movement The Juvenile Court The Media and “Getting Tough on Crime” Waiver: Remanding Juveniles to Adult Courts Juvenile Courts, Due Process, and the U.S. Supreme Court Juvenile Court Procedures Intake Adjudication Disposition Juvenile Corrections Juvenile Probation Restitution and “Restorative Justice” Juvenile Placement Detention Facilities Training Schools Group Homes Private Facilities Juvenile Aftercare Juveniles in Adult Jails and Prisons Capital Punishment for Juveniles and Roper v. Simmons Deinstitutionalization, Community Corrections, and Diversion House Arrest Youth Service Bureaus VisionQuest Juvenile Boot Camps Other Diversion Programs Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 15 Delinquency Treatment and Prevention Learning Outcomes Medicalization and Medical Treatment for Social Problems Media and the Medical Model of Delinquency Treatment Ideology and Delinquency Treatment Programs Behavior Modification Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reality Therapy and Choice Theory Group and Individual Counseling and Therapy Prevention Ideology and Delinquency Prevention Programs Early Identification Predelinquency and Early Identification Sociological Approaches to Delinquency Treatment and Prevention The Chicago Area Project The Mid-City Project Mobilization for Youth Minnesota Youth Advocate Program/Urban League Neighborhood Youth Corps and Job Training P.I.N.S. (Persons In Need of Supervision) Programs The Millcreek Youth Correctional Facility The Paint Creek Youth Center Project New Pride Mentoring Programs Other Programs Mobilizing the Community to Prevent Delinquency Crimestoppers and Hotlines Neighborhood Watch and Youth Crime Watch Guardian Angels and Cyber Angels Evaluation of Delinquency Treatment and Prevention Strategies Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion 16 Rethinking the Delinquency Problem Learning Outcomes The Social Nature of Juvenile Delinquency Eliminating the Marginal Status of Juveniles Rites of Passage Meaningful Social Participation Standardization or Elimination of Juvenile Codes Decriminalization of Status Offenses Revision of the Juvenile Court Limited Jurisdiction Due Process Professional Judges and Court Personnel Dispositional Alternatives Other Revisions Modification of Juvenile Corrections Strengthening the Family Changing the Educational System Redefining Juvenile Delinquency The Role of the Media in Redefining Delinquency A Final Note Summary Outcomes Assessment: Questions and Topics for Study and Discussion Glossary References Photo and Cartoon Credits Name Index Subject Index

About the Author :
William E. Thompson is professor of sociology at Texas A&M University-Commerce. Professor Thompson has authored and coauthored more than 40 articles in professional journals, including several reprinted in sociology textbooks and readers.

Review :
Bill Thompson delivers again. Thompson and Bynum have set the standard for core texts in Juvenile Delinquency for over two decades. This new volume is as fresh, fascinating, well-researched, and relevant as ever. I recommend this volume to anyone teaching courses in juvenile delinquency, as well as policy makers and general interest readers wanting to stay well-informed. Students will be lucky to have instructors who adopt this book! I couldn't put it down.