U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

LOVE AND THE AMERICAN DELINQUENT - THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF 'PROGRESSIVE' JUVENILE JUSTICE, 1825-1920

NCJ Number
44008
Author(s)
S L SCHLOSSMAN
Date Published
1977
Length
315 pages
Annotation
THE ORIGINS AND MEANING OF AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL REFORM MOVEMENTS ARE REEXAMINED FROM THE STANDPOINT OF LEGAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND SOCIAL HISTORY.
Abstract
UNPUBLISHED TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS AND STATISTICAL DATA FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE MILWAUKEE JUVENILE COURT FORM THE BASIS OF THE ARGUMENT THAT 'AFFECTIONAL DISCIPLINE' FAILED TO SUFFICIENTLY IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. EXCERPTS FROM VERBATIM COURTROOM TESTIMONY OFFER AN INTIMATE VIEW OF THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS AND INSIGHT INTO THE PERSONALITIES OF THOSE INVOLVED. THE PORTRAIT OF HOW 'PROGRESSIVE' INSTITUTIONS REALLY WORKED CHALLENGES THE WIDELY HELD BELIEF THAT THERE WAS ONCE A HEYDAY OF 'PROGRESSIVE' JUVENILE JUSTICE WHEN DELINQUENTS WERE HUMANELY AND SUCCESSFULLY TREATED. THE AUTHOR ALSO REFUTES THE CONVENTIONAL ASSUMPTION THAT THE JUVENILE COURT MOVEMENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY 'PROGRESSIVE' IDEAS. A REAPPRAISAL OF THE RISE OF THE JUVENILE COURT IS PRESENTED BY FOCUSING ON TWO NEGLECTED INSTITUTIONS, THE FAMILY REFORM SCHOOL AND PROBATION. SUPPORTING DATA, NOTES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND AN INDEX ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)