The Negative Consequences Of Aging-Out Process

Chp 1 aging-out process (also known as desistance or spontaneous remission) The tendency for youths to reduce the frequency of their offending behavior as they age; aging-out is thought to occur among all groups of offenders. at-risk youths Young people who are extremely vulnerable to the negative consequences of school failure, substance abuse, and early sexuality. best interests of the child A philosophical viewpoint that encourages the state to take control of wayward children and provide care, custody, and treatment to remedy delinquent behavior. bindover See waiver. chancery courts Court proceedings created in ?fteenth-century England to oversee the lives of high-born minors who were orphaned or otherwise could not care for themselves.
child savers Nineteenth-century reformers who developed programs for troubled youth and in?uenced legislation creating the juvenile justice system; today some critics view them as being more concerned with control of the poor than with their welfare. chronic delinquent See chronic delinquent offender. chronic delinquent offender (also known as chronic juvenile offenders, chronic delinquents, or chronic recidivists)Youths who have been arrested four or more times during their minority and perpetuate a striking majority of serious criminal acts. This small group, known as the “chronic 6 percent,” is believed to engage in a signi?cant portion of all delinquent behavior; these youths do not age out of crime but continue their criminal behavior into adulthood. chronic juvenile offender See chronic delinquent offender. chronic recidivist See chronic delinquent offender. continuity of crime The idea that chronic juvenile offenders are likely to continue violating the law as adults. delinquent Juvenile who has been adjudicated by a judicial of?cer of a juvenile court as having committed a delinquent act. ego identity According to Erik Erikson, ego identity is formed when a person develops a ?rm sense of who he is and what he stands for. juvenile delinquency Participation in illegal behavior by a minor who falls under a statutory age limit. juvenile justice system The segment of the justice system, including law enforcement of?cers, the courts, and correctional agencies, designed to treat youthful offenders.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Branch of the U.S. Justice Department charged with shaping national juvenile justice policy through disbursement of federal aid and research funds. parens patriae Power of the state to act on behalf of the child and provide care and protection equivalent to that of a parent.
paternalistic family A family style wherein the father is the ?nal authority on all family matters and exercises complete control over his wife and children. persistence The process by which juvenile offenders persist in their delinquent careers rather than aging out of crime.
Poor Laws English statutes that allowed the courts to appoint overseers over destitute and neglected children, allowing placement of these children as servants in the homes of the af?uent. primogeniture During the Middle Ages, the right of ?rst­born sons to inherit lands and titles, leaving their brothers the option of a military or religious career. removal See waiver. role diffusion According to Erik Erikson, role diffusion occurs when youths spread themselves too thin, experience personal uncertainty, and place themselves at the mercy of leaders who promise to give them a sense of identity they cannot develop for themselves. status offense Conduct that is illegal only because the child is under age. swaddling The practice during the Middle Ages of completely wrapping newborns in long bandage-like clothes in order to restrict their movements and make them easier to
manage. truancy Staying out of school without permission. victimizations The number of people who are victims of criminal acts; young teens are 15 times more likely than older adults (age 65 and over) to be victims of crimes. waiver (also known as bindover or removal) Transferring legal jurisdiction over the most serious and experienced juvenile offenders to the adult court for criminal prosecution. wayward minors Early legal designation of youths who violate the law because of their minority status; now referred to as status offenders.