Juvenile Justice: An Introduction to Process, Practice, and Research

This book provides a comprehensive and thought-provoking introduction to the juvenile justice system in the United States. It begins by tracing the historical origins of the legal concept of juvenile delinquency and the institutional responses that developed, and analyzes the problem of delinquency, including its patterns, correlates, and causes. With this essential foundation, the greater part of the book examines the full range of efforts to respond to delinquency through both informal and formal mechanisms of juvenile justice. Core coverage includes:

• The history and transformation of juvenile justice,
• The nature and causes of delinquency,
• Policing juveniles,
• Juvenile court processes,
• Juvenile probation and community-based corrections,
• Residential placement and aftercare programs,
• Delinquency prevention,
• Linking systems of care.

This book is designed as a core text for courses on juvenile justice. Each chapter begins with a compelling case study and learning objectives that draw attention to the topics discussed. Each chapter ends with one or two readings that introduce readers to the literature on juvenile justice. In addition, "critical thinking questions" invite analysis of the material covered in the chapter.

A companion website offers an array of resources for students and instructors. For students, this includes chapter overviews, flashcards of key terms, and useful website links. The instructor site is password protected and offers a complete set of PowerPoint slides and an extensive test bank for each chapter―all prepared by the authors.

James Burfeind is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Montana. He earned a PhD in Criminology and Urban Sociology from Portland State University in Oregon. Professor Burfeind’s teaching and research interests are in criminological theory, juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, and corrections. With Dawn Jeglum Bartusch, he co-authored the textbook Juvenile Delinquency: An Integrated Approach (3rd edition, 2016, Routledge). He has received a number of teaching awards, including "Most Inspirational Teaching," a university-wide award chosen by graduating seniors. He has considerable experience in juvenile probation and parole, and adolescent residential placement.

Dawn Jeglum Bartusch is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Valparaiso University in Indiana. She earned a PhD in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Professor Bartusch’s teaching and research interests are in juvenile delinquency, criminological theory, crime and inequality, and social stratification. With James Burfeind, she co-authored the textbook Juvenile Delinquency: An Integrated Approach. Her research has appeared in Criminology, Social Forces, Law and Society Review, and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Dusten R. Hollist was a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Montana. He earned a PhD in Sociology from Washington State University. Professor Hollist’s teaching and research interests were in juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, and sociology of law enforcement. His research has appeared in Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Criminal Justice, and the Journal of Youth and Adolescence.