Juvenile probation and aftercare

Questions for Review

1. What are the principal components of the juvenile justice system? Why do some view juvenile justice as a process rather than a system?

 

2. Why is there a general lack of uniformity among juvenile courts in the United States?

 

3. What is the age range for juvenile courts in the United States? Which factors make it difficult to provide a consistent definition of this age range among states? Explain.

 

4. What is the doctrine of parens patriae? What are its origins? Does parens patriaecontinue to influence juvenile courts today? Why, or why not?

 

5. What is the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) of 1974? What are its implications for juveniles?

 

6. What is meant by DSO? What are some of its outcomes for juvenile offenders?

 

7. What is the current situation with youth in residential placement?

 

8. What are some major differences between juvenile and criminal courts?

 

9. What are dispositions? How do they resemble sentences for adult criminals? What are three types of dispositions? Define and give an example of each.

 

10. Distinguish between juvenile probation and aftercare. What is the difference between secure confinement and nonsecure confinement?

 

11. Are juvenile courts primarily treatment-centered or punishment-centered? What is the get-tough movement, and what are some reasons for its existence?