LAW-2235 Juvenile Law
The American juvenile justice system was established over a century ago to address the issue of young offenders. This course examines the historical, social, and legal foundations of our current system. We will explore the concept of rights as it pertains to children and investigate how ideology and politics impact the contemporary juvenile justice system. How have perceptions of childhood and responsibility evolved? Has the juvenile court become criminalized with the introduction of due process rights for minors? Under what circumstances are children treated as adult offenders? Key topics for inquiry include police interrogation of juveniles, school safety and zero-tolerance policies, adjudicative competency, anti-youth crime initiatives, conditions of incarceration, and the changes brought about by the elimination of mandatory juvenile life without parole. We will analyze these issues through court cases, law review articles, government and private organizational position papers, and legislative history to evaluate whether it is reasonable to maintain a separate justice system for juveniles. These central delinquency issues often intersect with the child welfare challenges faced by social services professionals and family courts.
Offered
Fall, Spring