Although incarceration rates of juveniles in the United States have decreased over the past ten years, the U.S. still confines the highest number of youths compared to any other developed country in the world. Since the inception of the Juvenile Justice system, society's perception of children and how they should be treated within the Criminal Justice System has not only influenced the outcomes of our youths' future but is ever-changing. This changing and sometimes volatile system is scrutinized not only by our nation but the rest of the world. A primary goal of this text is to enable students to evaluate the system by providing not only a comprehensive look at its creation and development, but the intricacies within that have made it what it is today.
In addition to covering the mainstream topics, this text goes further than competitors in its unique approach and cutting-edge content that ranges from learning activities to sections on victim impact, theoretical and practical applications, provocative discussion questions, comprehensive wrap-ups, and relevant laws and landmark cases. Further, this text provides comprehensive coverage of the effects of the digital age on juveniles, specifically social media, sexting, cyberbullying, child pornography, and abduction. A separate chapter covers the effects of media violence on youths, including how television, movies, and modem virtual-reality video games have advanced in both content and accessibility. At the end of each chapter, a world view of the topics covered offers comparative perspectives, an engaging and informative feature for students.