CJ5540/7540 JUVENILE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
FALL 2006 SYLLABUS
Instructor:Mary Dodge, Ph.D.
Office:1380 Lawrence Street Center Suite 500
Phone:(303)556-5987
Email:
Web site:
Office Hrs:Wednesday 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. or by appointment
Class:Wednesday 5:30 – 8:15 p.m. SO 114
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This seminar examines the policies and practices of agencies in processing youthful offenders through the juvenile court system, reviews trends in juvenile justice policy making, and assesses changes in responses to juvenile crime by both the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS: Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the major areas of conflict and consensus among the components of the juvenile justice system; the interface with police; prosecutorial decision-making, the adjudicatory process; and juvenile corrections, treatment programs, and issues surrounding recidivism.
TEXT: Ayers, William (1997). A Kind and Just Parent: The Children of Juvenile Court.Boston: Beacon Press.
Mays, G.L. & Winfree, L.T. (2006). Juvenile Justice (2nd Edition). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press.
Sikes, Gina (1997). 8 Ball Chicks. New York: Doubleday.
Any additional reading assignments and articles will be provided by the instructor.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
TERM PROJECT: A comprehensive term project will be required. Specific details regarding this project are provided on a separate handout. Your project will constitute the majority of your grade along with class participation and group discussion. Late assignments will be subject to a one letter reduction in grade.
ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is mandatory. A large percentage of the materials presented in class will not be available in the readings. Students who miss classes will find themselves at a disadvantage.
CJ5540/7540 JUVENILE JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION
FALL 2006 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE*
WEEK 1August 23rd
INTRODUCTION TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM
Topic:Girls, Delinquency & the System
The Nature of Female Delinquency
Girls and Gangs
Readings:Gina Sikes 8 Ball Chicks
WEEK2August 30th
SITE VISIT: BETTYMARLERYOUTHCENTER
Topic:Detention Facilities and Gender Specific Programs.
Readings:Gina Sikes 8 Ball Chicks
WEEK 3September 6th
GENDER SPECIFIC ISSUES
Topic:Treatment Philosophies
Class Discussion: 8 Ball Chicks
WEEK 4September 13th
DELINQUENCY & JUSTICE
HISTORICAL & THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
Topic:Defining, Measuring, and Responding
Historical Status of Children
Emergence of the Juvenile Court & Probation Services
Psychological & Sociological Theories
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapters 1 & 2
WEEK 5September 20th
POSSIBLE SITE VISIT: RIDGEVIEW
WEEK 6September 27th
JUVENILE OFFENDERS AND POLICE
Topic:Police Roles & Contacts
Responses to Delinquency
Arrest, Restraint, & Investigations
Best Practices
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 3
Dodge, M. (2006). “Juvenile Police Informants: Friendship, Persuasion, and
Pretense.” Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4(3): 234-246.
WEEK 7October 4th
DETENTION & DIVERSION
Topic:Detention
Preadjudication
Diversionary Programs
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 4
WEEK 8October 11th
JUVENILE COURT PROCESS
Topic:Jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court
Courtroom Work Group
Organization and Structure
Current Issues in Juvenile Court
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 5
WEEK 9October 18th
PROBATION
INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS, PAROLE, & AFTERCARE
Topic:Balancing the Response to Youth Crime
Social Work Advocacy
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapters 6, 7, & 8
WEEK 10October 25th
NONDELINQUENT CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM
Topic:Neglected and Abused Children
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 9
WEEK 11November 1st
GANGS
Topic:Definitions, Demographics, Drugs
Community Impact
Gang Migration
Criminal Justice Responses
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 10
WEEK 12November 8th
PREVENTION & THE FUTURE
Readings:Mays & Winfree Chapter 11 &12
WEEK 13November 15th
CASE STUDIES IN JUVENILE COURT
Topic:Teen Courts and Parens Patriae
Readings:William Ayers A Kind and Just Parent (pp.1-95)
WEEK 14November 29th
CASE STUDIES OUTCOMES
Topic:Court Responses
Readings:William Ayers A Kind and Just Parent (pp. 96-200)
Class Discussion: A Kind and Just Parent
WEEK 15December 6th
CONCLUSIONS AND CATCH-UP
FINALS WEEK
*Please note that the schedule will change according to confirmation of site visits at Marvin W. Foote, Ridgeview, and LookoutMountain.