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CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice Syllabus
The Juvenile Delinquency and Justice syllabus for CSS Criminology in full: 2 chapters and 9 topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Juvenile Delinquency and Justice flashcards with answers.
Juvenile Delinquency and Justice syllabus: all 2 chapters
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.
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Understanding Juvenile Delinquency
4 topics- Meaning and Definitions of Delinquency
- Juvenile Delinquent vs Status Offender
- Causes and Correlates of Delinquency
- Official Statistics of Juvenile Delinquency
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Juvenile Justice System
5 topics- Role of Police in Juvenile Justice
- Juvenile Courts and Pretrial, Trial and Sentencing
- Probation and Diversion Alternatives
- Juvenile Correctional Institutions
- Juvenile Justice System Act 2018
CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice flashcards — 51 questions with answers
What is the general meaning of "juvenile delinquency"?
Participation in illegal behavior by a minor (a person below the statutory age of majority) — acts that would be crimes if committed by an adult, plus status offenses applicable only to juveniles.
How does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 (Pakistan) define a "juvenile"?
A child who has not attained the age of 18 years at the time of commission of an offence.
What is the etymological/legal root of the term "delinquency"?
From the Latin 'delinquere', meaning to fail, omit, or be wanting — i.e., a failure to perform a required duty or to abstain from prohibited conduct.
Define a "status offense" in juvenile justice.
An act that is prohibited only because of the offender's status as a minor (e.g., truancy, running away, curfew violation, underage drinking) and would not be an offense if committed by an adult.
What is the key distinction between a juvenile delinquent and a status offender?
A delinquent commits an act that is a crime for anyone (theft, assault); a status offender commits an act prohibited only because of age/minor status (truancy, running away). Delinquents violate criminal law; status offenders violate age-based rules.
What are the three broad categories of juvenile offenders?
1) Delinquents (commit acts that are crimes for adults too); 2) Status offenders (acts illegal only for minors); 3) Dependent/neglected children (in need of care/protection rather than punishment).
What is "parens patriae" and why is it central to the juvenile justice system?
Latin for "parent of the country/nation" — the doctrine that the state acts as guardian for those unable to protect themselves (children). It justifies the rehabilitative, protective, non-punitive orientation of juvenile courts.
Name the major sociological/biological CATEGORIES of causes of delinquency.
Biological/individual factors, psychological factors, family factors, school factors, peer/group factors, economic factors (poverty), and community/neighborhood factors.
What family-related factors are correlated with delinquency?
Broken homes, poor parental supervision, parental conflict/abuse, family criminality, large family size, inconsistent or harsh discipline, and lack of attachment/affection.
How does differential association theory (Sutherland) explain delinquency?
Delinquency is learned through interaction with others; a person becomes delinquent when definitions favorable to law violation exceed definitions unfavorable to it.
What does social control theory (Hirschi) say causes delinquency?
Delinquency results when an individual's bond to society is weak or broken. The four elements of the bond are: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief.
What are Hirschi's four elements of the social bond?
Attachment (to others), Commitment (to conventional goals), Involvement (in conventional activities), and Belief (in shared values/legitimacy of law).
How does strain/anomie theory (Merton) explain delinquency?
Strain arises when society emphasizes culturally approved goals (wealth/success) but denies legitimate means to achieve them; the resulting frustration pushes some youth toward delinquency (innovation/deviance).
What is the "age-crime curve" relevant to juvenile delinquency?
The empirical finding that offending rises sharply in adolescence, peaks in the late teens (around 15-19), and declines steadily in adulthood — a near-universal pattern.
What did the Gluecks' research contribute to understanding delinquency?
Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck's longitudinal study identified family factors (discipline, supervision, affection, cohesion) as key predictors of delinquency and emphasized early onset and continuity of antisocial behavior.
What is meant by "correlates" of delinquency (vs. causes)?
Factors statistically associated with delinquency (age, gender, race, social class, peer association, family structure) without necessarily being proven causes — risk markers rather than direct causal agents.
What gender pattern is consistently found in official juvenile delinquency statistics?
Boys are far more likely to be officially involved in delinquency than girls, with the gender gap largest for serious/violent offenses and smallest for status offenses.
What are the THREE main sources of data on juvenile delinquency?
1) Official statistics (police/court records, e.g., UCR arrest data); 2) Self-report surveys; 3) Victimization surveys.
What is the "dark figure of crime" and how does it affect juvenile statistics?
The large volume of unreported and undetected delinquency not captured in official records, meaning official statistics understate the true extent of juvenile offending.
Why are self-report studies important for measuring juvenile delinquency?
They reveal hidden delinquency missed by official records, show that delinquency is far more widespread across social classes than official data suggest, and reduce reliance on police discretion as a filter.
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What is the first decision point/role of police in the juvenile justice process?
Police are the gatekeepers — they make the initial contact and exercise wide discretion to either divert/release with a warning, refer to social services, or take the juvenile into custody and refer to court.
What discretionary options do police have when encountering a juvenile offender?
Release with a warning, informal counseling/community referral, referral to parents, diversion to a program, or formal arrest and referral to juvenile court — chosen based on offense seriousness, prior record, and demeanor.
Under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018, who must be informed when a juvenile is arrested?
The juvenile's guardian and the concerned probation officer must be informed immediately, and the guardian/officer is to be present during proceedings; the juvenile must be produced before the court within 24 hours.
What is a "Juvenile Court" and what makes it distinct from an adult criminal court?
A specialized court for handling juvenile cases that emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment, uses informal/closed proceedings, protects the juvenile's identity, and acts under parens patriae for the child's welfare.
What are the three procedural stages of juvenile court handling?
1) Pretrial (intake, detention/bail decision, diversion); 2) Trial/adjudication (determination of involvement in the offense); 3) Disposition/sentencing (deciding treatment, probation, or placement).
What is "intake" in the juvenile court process?
The screening stage where a probation officer or intake officer reviews the case to decide whether to dismiss, divert/handle informally, or file a formal petition for adjudication.
What is "adjudication" in juvenile court?
The juvenile-court equivalent of a trial — the fact-finding hearing where the court determines whether the juvenile committed the alleged offense (is "adjudicated delinquent").
What is "disposition" in juvenile court?
The juvenile-court equivalent of sentencing — after adjudication, the court decides the appropriate treatment/placement (probation, counseling, institutional commitment) based on the child's needs.
What is a "waiver" or "transfer" (certification) in juvenile justice?
The process by which a juvenile case is moved from juvenile court to adult criminal court (for serious offenses), so the youth is tried and punished as an adult.
What is "detention" in the juvenile pretrial stage?
The temporary holding of a juvenile in a secure or non-secure facility pending adjudication, used when the youth poses a risk of flight, danger, or further offending; favored law mandates it be a last resort.
Define "probation" in the juvenile justice context.
A court-ordered period of community supervision in lieu of incarceration, during which the juvenile must comply with conditions (school attendance, curfew, counseling, reporting to a probation officer) under threat of revocation.
Define "diversion" in juvenile justice.
The practice of channeling juveniles away from formal court processing into informal programs (counseling, restitution, community service, mediation) to avoid the stigma and harm of formal adjudication.
What is the main rationale behind diversion programs?
To minimize the stigmatizing/labeling effects of formal processing, reduce court caseloads, and rehabilitate the youth in the community — based on labeling theory's insight that formal handling can deepen delinquency.
How does labeling theory relate to diversion and juvenile justice?
Labeling theory (Becker, Lemert) holds that formally labeling a youth "delinquent" can produce a self-fulfilling prophecy and secondary deviance; diversion seeks to avoid this stigma by keeping youths out of the formal system.
What is the difference between primary and secondary deviance (Lemert)?
Primary deviance is the initial rule-breaking act with little effect on self-concept; secondary deviance is deviance that results after labeling, when the person adopts a deviant identity in response to societal reaction.
What is "restorative justice" as a diversion alternative for juveniles?
An approach focusing on repairing harm to victims and community through dialogue, restitution, victim-offender mediation, and community service, rather than punishment — reintegrating the offender.
What are the main types of juvenile correctional institutions?
Non-secure (group homes, foster care, shelters) and secure facilities (detention centers, training schools/reformatories, borstal institutions); plus community-based residential programs.
What is a "Borstal Institution"?
A type of youth detention/reformatory center for young offenders emphasizing education, vocational training, and discipline-based rehabilitation; in Pakistan, borstal institutions house juveniles under the Sindh Borstal Schools and related laws.
What is the primary objective of juvenile correctional institutions?
Rehabilitation and reintegration of the juvenile through education, vocational training, counseling, and reform — not retribution or deterrence as in adult prisons.
What is an "Observation Home" / "Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre"?
Under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018, a Juvenile Rehabilitation Centre is a place established/certified by government to keep, educate, train, and rehabilitate juveniles separately from adult prisoners.
When was the Juvenile Justice System Act passed in Pakistan, and what did it replace?
The Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 was enacted in 2018, replacing the earlier Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO) 2000.
What is the maximum age limit for a "juvenile" under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018?
Under 18 years of age at the time of commission of the offence.
What three categories of offences does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 classify offences into?
Minor offences (punishable up to 3 years imprisonment), Major offences (punishable 3 to 7 years), and Heinous offences (punishable with death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment exceeding 7 years).
Under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018, how is a "minor offence" defined?
An offence for which the maximum punishment under the Pakistan Penal Code or any other law is imprisonment up to three years with or without fine.
Under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018, how is a "heinous offence" defined?
An offence which is serious, gruesome, brutal, sensational, or shocking to public morality, punishable under law with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for more than seven years.
What does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 require regarding Juvenile Justice Committees?
It provides for establishment of Juvenile Justice Committees (comprising a judicial magistrate, a member of local bar, a serving police officer, and a social welfare/probation officer) to dispose of cases through diversion.
What is the diversion mechanism under the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018?
For minor and major offences, cases may be referred to a Juvenile Justice Committee for disposal through diversion — restitution, supervision, community service, or written apology — avoiding formal trial.
What right to legal assistance does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 guarantee?
Every juvenile has the right to legal assistance at state expense; the state must provide a lawyer if the juvenile or guardian cannot afford one.
How does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 treat bail for juveniles?
It liberalizes bail — a juvenile accused of a minor or major offence is to be released on bail, and even in heinous offences the court has discretion to grant bail if it serves the juvenile's welfare; juveniles cannot be kept with adult prisoners.
What does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 say about the determination of a juvenile's age?
If a question of age arises, the court must record a finding on age based on available evidence (birth certificate, school records, or medical examination) before proceeding.
What prohibition on punishment does the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 impose?
No juvenile shall be awarded the death penalty, sentenced to hard labour, or handcuffed/fettered/given corporal punishment; juveniles must be kept separate from adult offenders.
CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice FAQ
What is in the CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice syllabus?
CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice is split into 2 chapters: Understanding Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice System. Together they contain 9 topics.
How many chapters are in CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice?
2 chapters, containing 9 topics. The largest chapter is Juvenile Justice System, with 5 topics.
Are there flashcards for CSS Criminology Juvenile Delinquency and Justice?
Yes — a 51-card Juvenile Delinquency and Justice deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.