Juvenile Crime

Casual researchers and interested parties should find Ph.D. Kupchik's (sociology & criminal justice, Univ. of Delaware) revised edition an easy and informative read. The book opens with a history of juvenile crime, causes of crime, and the changing social views of juvenile crime and punishment. Federal legislation and legal precedents set by selected U.S. Supreme Court cases are also explored. Each case history provides a brief synopsis, relevant legal issues, and the impact of the decision on juvenile justice; the major In re Gault case (argued in 1966) is explored in greater detail in Appendix B. Because juvenile law procedures often differ from adult analogs, Chapter 3 explores the current juvenile justice legal process. A description and explanation is given for each step in the legal process from intake and detention through hearings and determination of punishment; legal terms are defined in a 13-page glossary. Other chapters provide a rather useful guide for researching legal cases, while the book's extensive bibliography (over 50 pages) provides users with many other resources for exploration. Federal resources, both electronic and print, and other online sources as well as resources in the reader's local library are discussed. BOTTOM LINE A useful starting point for many interested readers, this book would not be out of place in a public library, though it's most likely be found in an academic library. Buy it if your budget permits.—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown