RT Article
T1 Why Not Let Kids Be Kids? An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship Between Alternative Rationales for Managing Status Offending and Youths’ Self-Concepts
JF American journal of criminal justice
VO 34
IS 3/4
SP 198
OP 212
A1 Jennings, Wesley G.
A2 Gibson, Chris
A2 Lanza-Kaduce, Lonn
LA English
YR 2009
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1764200853
AB Over the past several decades, the juvenile justice system has struggled with an effective response to status offenders and their unwanted behaviors. Three divergent rationales have emerged for handling these youth: (1) treatment, (2) deterrence, and (3) normalization. Using data from over 300 youth under supervision by agencies in three states, the current study assesses how these differing practices are related to youths’ self-concepts. Results provide support for both deterrence and normalization-based rationales over the historical treatment-based rationale. Viewing status offending as normal adolescent behavior (i.e., normalization) has the most beneficial effect on self-concept. Study limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
K1 juvenile justice
K1 Treatment
K1 Delinquency
K1 Status Offenders
DO 10.1007/s12103-008-9054-y