A Juvenile Justice Primer
Review of Juvenile Justice: The System, Process, and Law (First Edition), by Rolando V. del Carmen and Chad R. Trulson. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing, 2005, 512 pp., $80.95 (cloth).
Reviewed By Dan Richard Beto
Huntsville, Texas
Perhaps one of the most widely recognized and respected scholars in the field of criminal justice is Rolando V. del Carmen, the Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University, who has produced countless texts, book chapters, and articles over the past several decades.
A few of his more recent books, some with coauthors, include Community-Based Corrections, Criminal Procedure: Law and Practice , Briefs of Leading Cases in Corrections, Briefs of Leading Cases in Law Enforcement, Briefs of Leading Cases in Juvenile Justice, Civil Liabilities in American Policing: A Text for Law Enforcement Personnel, and Civil Liabilities and Other Legal Issues for Probation/ Parole Officers and Supervisors .
His most recent effort is Juvenile Justice: The System, Process, and Law, written with Chad Trulson, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of North Texas and one of Dr. del Carmen’s former students. In this text the authors provide a comprehensive and scholarly overview of the American juvenile justice system. In their preface, which is particularly noteworthy, the authors provide a justification for writing this book:
Anyone who teaches undergraduate juvenile justice with some legal orientation finds the market devoid of a usable textbook. Most juvenile justice books focus on delinquency theories, with a few chapters or sections devoted to the juvenile justice system and process. In many cases, juvenile law is an afterthought and an almost unwelcome add-on that is usually squeezed into one chapter, which makes student comprehension difficult. Thus, the legal dimension of juvenile justice is often marginalized. Adding to the problem is the absence of materials that blend social science and the legal approaches to juvenile justice. Social science research is crucial to juvenile justice, but so are law and the courts, because they set the framework and operational environment for juvenile justice. The gap between the two must be bridged if the whole juvenile justice system and process is to be better understood. This book is written to fill the need for a textbook that:
- Integrates systems, process, and law in clear and lucid language;
- Is comprehensive and bridges the gap between theory and practice in juvenile justice;
- Discusses juvenile justice substance but does not neglect formal or informal procedure;
- Focuses on juvenile justice as a system and as a process based on social science research, statutory law, and court decisions;
- Identifies the latest social science research and court cases on an array of juvenile justice topics;
- Contains logical and proper sequencing of the juvenile justice process to make it easier to understand and remember; and
- Focuses on important information and data about juvenile justice and is not cluttered with details that apply only to a few jurisdictions.
In Juvenile Justice: The System, Process, and Law the authors certainly have achieved their identified objectives.
The book, comprised of fourteen chapters, in addition to providing the reader with a sufficient theoretical and historical foundation, explains in detail the various stages of the juvenile justice system through a rational progression. The chapters cover such topics as: theories and measurement of juvenile offending; the role of police in addressing juvenile crime; intake and diversion; status offenders, dependent and neglected youth, and juvenile victimization; the detention process and certification as an adult offender; the national court system; adjudication, disposition, and appeals; juvenile probation and parole; institutional corrections; the death penalty for juveniles; students’ rights and school crime; and a look to the future.
Missing from this text — which is a blessing — is the clutter of unnecessary pictures. Rather, the authors have included tables and exhibits that bear a strong relationship with the subject matter. They have also included occasional scenarios designed to promote student discussion.
Each of the book’s chapters begins with an outline, along with points to be learned, and is concluded with a summary of relevant points, review questions, and a list of key terms and definitions. In addition, relevant websites are provided for further research.
The text contains three appendices relevant to the study of the juvenile justice system. Appendix A provides U. S. Supreme Court decisions relating to juveniles, and Appendix B lists state by state where juvenile laws are found. Appendix C offers guidance on accessing and interpreting court cases.
Juvenile Justice: The System, Process, and Law is an excellent undergraduate text. The approach taken by the authors in crafting this book will enhance the learning experience of those who use it. Rolando V. del Carmen and Chad R. Trulson are to be commended for their contribution to criminal justice scholarship.
Dan Richard Beto, is Chair of the Governing Board, Texas Regional Community Policing Institute, Huntsville, Texas.