Whitehead: Juvenile Justice, 7th Edition

Case Studies with Questions and Answers

Chapter 01: Introduction - The Definition and Extent of Delinquency

Case Study 1

Joe is a 14-year-old who has been taken into custody after being accused of assaulting another youth. The assault resulted in the victim being admitted to the hospital with internal injuries. Joe has a history of aggressive behavior and has been in and out of the juvenile system since he was 11 years old. He has recently started to run with known gang members. His family life is not ideal. He lives with his mother and two older siblings who also have a delinquent history. Joe has become a consistent truant and the school has referred him to the juvenile court for both truancy and disruptive behavior.

Based on his behavior and past record, there is consideration of transferring Joe to the adult court.

Questions

  1. In general, does Joe qualify for transfer?

    2. Correct Answer

    Yes, but it depends on the jurisdiction. Age 14 is the most typical minimum age for transfer.


  2. If Joe is not transferred to the adult court, does this mean he will be freed from all supervision at age 18, despite the seriousness of his offense?

    3. Correct Answer

    No. While it is possible that he will be released at age 18, many states allow for maintaining jurisdiction until age 21.


  3. The key question in this scenario is in defining a juvenile. What are the considerations for "juvenile"?

    4. Correct Answer

    There is a typical maximum age of 18; a minimum age of 10 in most jurisdictions; an ability to maintain jurisdiction until age 21 in many places; and the possibility of transferring a youth to adult status as young as 10.



Case Study 2

The media has been running a series of reports on juvenile offending and the state of the juvenile justice system. This has prompted a belief among the public that delinquency is on the rise and something must be done. Unfortunately, it is not clear exactly what the extent of the problem is or how it should even be measured.

The news reports have addressed police work, the burden on the courts, overcrowding in the local detention facilities, and the use of alcohol and illicit drugs as reported by students in the local schools. When looking at the information in these reports, it is not clear what is exactly is taking place, if it is a real problem, or what should be done.

To make sense of this information, the city council has hired you to explain it all.

Questions

  1. List and briefly explain what you get from each of the major sources of data.

    2. Correct Answer

    There are three sources of "official" data: police reports, court records, and correctional records. Police reports give insight to those crimes that come to the attention of the police and for which they take action. Court records are more limited and reflect primarily those cases referred by the police, although some cases come from family, school, and other referrals. Corrections data are most limited since few youths are held in confinement. Self-report data show much more crime than any other source, but often are dominated by minor and status offenses. Their advantage is they are not filtered by system actors.


  2. If you were asked which of the data sources is best, how would you respond?

    3. Correct Answer

    There is no one "best" data source. The decision on what data to use must be determined by the question being asked and the goal that is being pursued.


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