What is the cycle of reform? After reading the chapter, do you believe that the juvenile justice system operates in a cyclical reform fashion?
What is the meaning of the word “paradigm”? Describe the key assumptions and beliefs for each of the four juvenile justice paradigms discussed in this chapter. What are the distinctive features of each paradigm?
What happened in the legal case In re Gault? What was the significance of this Supreme Court ruling for the Juvenile Rights paradigm?
Describe the four D’s—decriminalization, divest, deinstitutionalize, and diversion—of the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.
Explain the difference between status and delinquency offenses. Why did reformers believe it was necessary to treat these offense categories differently?
How has emerging research on brain science changed the juvenile justice system? How has neuroscience and evidence-based practices shifted how we think about youth who commit delinquent acts?
Explain the meaning of a new phase of youth development called “emerging adulthood.”
What is the significance of evidence-based practice? What are some important key insights that have emerged from rigorous scientific research on “what works”?
What are the key features of community restorative justice? What does restorative justice mean for youthful offenders?
Having read this case study and chapter, what things do you think need to be reinforced, revised, or created to support positive youth development in our society?
