The study of delinquency is concerned with the nature and extent of the criminal behavior of youth, the causes of youthful law violations, the legal rights of juveniles, and prevention and treatment of juveniles.
The problems of American youth have become an important subject of academic study. Many children live in poverty, have inadequate health care, and suffer family problems. Kids today are also at risk from threats that are on the internet, ranging from cyberbullying to sexting. Furthermore, adolescence is a time of taking risks, which can get kids into trouble with the law.
The concept of delinquency was developed in the early twentieth century. Before that time, criminal youth and adults were treated in almost the same fashion. A group of reformers, referred to as child savers, helped create a separate delinquency category to insulate juvenile offenders from the influence of adult criminals. The status of juvenile delinquency is still based on the parens patriae philosophy, which holds that children have the right to care and custody, and that if parents are not capable of providing that care, the state must step in to take control. Juvenile courts also have jurisdiction over noncriminal status offenders, whose offenses (such as truancy, running away, and sexual misconduct) are illegal only because of their minority status.
Some experts have called for an end to juvenile court control over status offenders, charging that it further stigmatizes already troubled youth. Some research indicates that status offenders are harmed by juvenile court processing. Other research indicates that status offenders and delinquents are quite similar. There has been a successful effort to separate status offenders from delinquents, and to maintain separate facilities for those who need to be placed in a shelter care program. Some jurisdictions have implemented curfew and parental laws, but so far, there is little evidence that they work as intended. Research indicates that neither of these attempts at controlling youthful misbehavior works as planned. Consequently, the treatment of juveniles is an ongoing dilemma. It is still uncertain whether young law violators respond better to harsh punishments or to benevolent treatment.

• Prepare to engage in discussion on the following questions:
  • What issues do you believe are prevalent for youth today?
  • What do you believe the purpose of the juvenile justice system and juvenile court should be? 
    
• Ensure the following points (issues) are addressed within the context of those two questions:
  • Poverty
  • Health and Mortality
  • Family and Living Conditions
  • Education
  • Cyberspace Challenges (Cyberbullying, Cyberstalking, Sexting)

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