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CHILD SAVERS - THE INVENTION OF DELINQUENCY, SECOND EDITION, ENLARGED, 1977

NCJ Number
44397
Author(s)
A M PLATT
Date Published
1977
Length
269 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR TRACES THE ORIGINS OF THE CHILD-SAVING MOVEMENT AND JUVENILE COURT, DISPELLING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE BENIGN CHARACTER OF BOTH.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT THE CHILD SAVERS SHOULD IN NO SENSE BE CONSIDERED LIBERTARIANS OR HUMANISTS. THEIR REFORMS DID NOT INTRODUCE A NEW SYSTEM OF JUSTICE BUT RATHER EXPEDITED TRADITIONAL POLICIES WHICH HAD BEEN INFORMALLY DEVELOPING DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY; THEY ASSUMED A 'NATURAL' DEPENDENCE OF ADOLESCENTS AND CREATED A SPECIAL COURT TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON PREMATURE INDEPENDENCE AND BEHAVIOR UNBECOMING TO YOUTH. THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS 'DELINQUENT' YOUTH WERE PATERNALISTIC AND ROMANTIC, BUT WHEN BENEVOLENCE FAILED, INDUSTRIAL LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS COULD QUICKLY RESORT TO MASSIVE AND OVERWHELMING FORCE; THEY PROMOTED CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS REQUIRING LONGER TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT, LONG HOURS OF LABOR, AND MILITARISTIC DISCIPLINE. CHAPTERS DELVE INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE REFORMATORY SYSTEM, THE SOCIAL VALUES OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS REFORMERS, AND THE TREATMENT OF YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE CREATION OF SEPARATE JUVENILE JURISDICTIONS. THE CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF CHILDREN IS DISCUSSED IN THE APPENDIX; REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED.