PSYC39H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Juvenile Delinquency, Juvenile Court, Truancy
Document Summary
Juveniles are arrested disproportionately compared with other age groups. This can be due to their naivet (being naive) at committing crimes and also they normally commit crimes in groups. The typical juvenile is far more likely to be a victim than the perpetrator of a violent crime. Juvenile delinquency is an imprecise term for a variety of law and norm violating behaviour. It can be viewed from a legal, social or psychological perspective and its definition varies. Delinquency is a behaviour against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not reached adulthood. Running away, violating curfew and truancy are all status offenses. Age is not always considered in the legal definition of delinquency. No state considers anyone over the age of 18 delinquents but have exceptions for youthful offenders, people who have not reached the age of 21. Youthful offenders are processed in criminal courts, but sentencing options are typically more lenient for them.
