Description
The course is designed to introduce students to the basics of the juvenile justice system. The course will begin with a history of juvenile crime and the social significance of trends being observed by professionals. Although a focus will be placed upon the role of law enforcement in dealing with juvenile issues from a preventative and enforcement aspect, several areas of the system will also be examined. Among these are terminologies pertaining to this area of the criminal justice system and the causes of delinquency, gangs, and child abuse. The workings of the schools, social services, detention facilities, prosecutors, diversion programs, the court, and correctional institutions (as they relate to the juvenile justice system) will be touched upon as well. All of the information will be presented in a manner such that the students will not only be able to become familiar with theory but also see how it applies to everyday law enforcement workings.