SOC 230 - Juvenile Delinquency

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the social science perspective on juvenile delinquency
   1. Define juvenile delinquency
   2. Explain the steps in conducting social science research
   3. Describe what is meant by an interdisciplinary approach
   4. Describe the relationship between social development and juvenile delinquency
   5. Explain why juveniles are a vulnerable population
   6. Discuss similarities in delinquency in other societies
   7. Describe changes in the concept of delinquency in the twentieth century.
   8. Describe the system of juvenile justice in the United States
   9. Describe the current controversy over treatment of juveniles.
2. Analyze techniques for measuring juvenile delinquency
   1. List the three most common techniques for measuring delinquency
   2. Describe the Uniform Crime Reports
   3. List problems in the use of Uniform Crime Report data
   4. Summarize current juvenile crime trends in the United States
   5. Discuss the value of self-report data
   6. Discuss the value of victimization studies
3. Analyze patterns of delinquency through the life course
   1. Discuss the social factors associated with delinquency
   2. Describe the relationship between gender and delinquency
   3. Describe the relationship between race, ethnicity and delinquency
   4. Describe the relationship between class and delinquency
   5. Describe the relationship between age and delinquency
   6. Describe Wolfgang’s research on the chronic offender
   7. Describe the turning points in delinquency careers
   8. Describe the influence of mass media on delinquency
4. Compare theories concerning individual traits and delinquency
   1. Explain choice theory
   2. Analyze routine activities theory
   3. Explain what is meant by biosocial/psychological theory
   4. Discuss modern biosocial theory
   5. Discuss modern psychological theories of delinquency
5. Compare structural theories of delinquency
   1. Describe the culture of poverty concept
   2. Explain strain theory
   3. Explain social disorganization theory
   4. Explain subcultural theory
   5. Describe how structural theory may be applied to alleviate problems of delinquency
6. Compare social process theories of delinquency
   1. Explain the process of socialization
   2. Explain Erikson’s stages of cognitive development
   3. Explain differential association theory
   4. Explain neutralization theory
   5. Explain Hirschi’s control theory
   6. Explain Gottfredson and Hirschi’s theory
   7. Apply social process theory to delinquency prevention
7. Compare social reaction theories of delinquency
   1. Explain labeling theory
   2. Explain social conflict theory
   3. Explain what is meant by integrated structural theory
   4. Apply social reaction theory to delinquency prevention
8. Compare theories of female delinquency
   1. Describe biosocial theories of female delinquency
   2. Describe socialization theories of female delinquency
   3. Analyze feminists views of female delinquency
9. Analyze family relations and delinquency
   1. Discuss changes in the American family
   2. Discuss the role of parent-child relations and delinquency
   3. Discuss child abuse and delinquency
   4. Discuss the child protection system
   5. Evaluate family and delinquency prevention programs
10. Analyze the effects of peers and gangs upon delinquency
    1. Evaluate the role on gangs in modern delinquency
    2. Summarize the history of gang research in America.
    3. Describe contemporary gangs in America
    4. Evaluate the role of race and ethnicity in gangs in America today
    5. Describe the causes of gang delinquency
    6. Summarize police efforts to deal with gangs
11. Analyze the relationship between schools and delinquency.
    1. Describe the school in modern American society
    2. Summarize theories of schools and delinquency
    3. List the causes of school failure
    4. Summarize the problems of delinquency in schools
    5. Describe the role of schools in delinquency prevention
12. Analyze the role of drugs in producing delinquency
    1. Describe widely used drugs
    2. Describe modern drug use patterns
    3. Describe the explanations of juvenile drug use
    4. Describe the effects of drug use
    5. Describe drug control strategies
13. Describe the history and philosophy of juvenile justice
    1. Describe child care in the middle ages
    2. Describe child care in the 15th and 16th century
    3. Describe the history of child welfare concerns
    4. Describe the history of child care in colonial and 19th century America
    5. Describe the development of the separate juvenile justice system in America
    6. Describe the modern juvenile justice system
    7. Provide a summary of the requirements of police work with juveniles.
    8. Give a summary of juvenile pretrial procedures
    9. Supply a summary of juvenile trial and disposition procedures
    10. Offer a summary of juvenile probation and treatment programs
    11. Describe juvenile institutions
14. Demonstrate the ability to comprehend reading material in the field of juvenile delinquency
    1. Read most or all of assigned material.
    2. Answer correctly no less than 70% of test questions over assigned material
15. Demonstrate logical and analytical thinking
    1. Answer essay questions using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling
    2. Write essays the answer questions in a clear, comprehensible, well-organized and objective manner
    3. Write an original research paper using library research materials and primary data using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling