Judging Delinquents: Context and Process in Juvenile Court [Hardcover]

Juvenile court has elicited the interest and criticism of lawyers, social workers, and criminologists, but less attention from sociologists. This book adds to growing sociological literature on the operations of legal institutions. It describes some critical aspects of the functioning of the juvenile court, an institution charged with judging and treating delinquents. To this end, it analyzes the nature of the court operation, the handling of delinquents, and the court's functions in relation to the wider social and legal system.Describes some critical aspects of the functioning of the juvenile court, an institution charged with judging and treating delinquents. This book analyzes the nature of the court operation, the handling of delinquents, and the court's functions in relation to the wider social and legal system. It reflects two distinct sociological heritages.PART I. The Dilemmas of Treatment, 1. The Setting and Structure of the Juvenile Court, 2. Relations with Political and Enforcement Agencies, 3. Relations with Treatment Resources, PART II. Case Management and Moral Character, 4. The Framework of Court Categorization: Trouble and Moral Character, 5. The Dynamics of Categorization: Establishing Moral Character, 6. The Dynamics of Categorization: Defensive Strategies, 7. Courtroom Ceremony and Interaction, PART III. The Dilemmas of Authority, 8. Character and Probationary Control, 9. Character and the Court Practice of Psychiatry, 10. Conclusion, APPENDIX, BIBLIOGRAPHY, INDEXUSCopyright ? 1969 by Robert M . Emerson A l l rights reserved.