Juvenile Justice Law and Policy

Catalog description

This course explores the law, policies and practices of the American juvenile justice system, past, present and future. The focus is on children who are in conflict with the law and those who, by virtue of their status as children, are subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court for engaging in conduct such as curfew violations, running away, and other forms of potentially harmful adolescent behavior. Among other issues, the course will examine how juvenile justice law and policy has been shaped by new research on adolescent development, including brain research.