Sociology 220 Juvenile Delinquency

M/W/F 8:30 - 9:45 AM

Room 105, Tarbutton Hall

Dr. Amy V. D'Unger Teaching Assistant: Beth Tarasawa

Office: 232 Tarbutton Hall Office: 218 Tarbutton Hall
Office Hours: M/W 9:30-11:00 AM Office Hours: T/Th 11:15-12:45 PM
Office Phone #: 404.727.6272 E-Mail: btarasa@learnlink.emory.edu
E-Mail: adunger@emory.edu

Introduction:

This course will introduce you to the basic theories and issues in the study of juvenile delinquency and
the juvenile justice system. The main subject areas to be covered in this course include: (1) theories of
delinquency, (2) social and individual influences on delinquency, (3) the history of the juvenile justice
system, (4) the juvenile justice process, and (5) the prevention, treatment, and punishment of juvenile
offending and offenders.

The texts for this course include:

• Agnew, Robert. 2000. Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Control.

• Anderson, Elijah. 1999. Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner
City.

• Humes, Edward. 1996. No Matter How Loud I Shout: A Year in the Life of the Juvenile Court.

In addition, there is the possibility of a few supplemental readings assigned throughout the semester,
which will be distributed to you in class.

The Following are the Requirements for the Course:

(1) Class participation: On the following pages is a schedule of the readings required for the course.
You are expected to read the assigned material prior to the class! Discussion will correspond to
the material in the books, but will not review it in detail, so both reading and class attendance are
important! Participation in class discussion, which is an important part of your final grade, will
depend on you having read the material in a timely manner.

In addition to participation in class discussions, there is also a Learnlink site (Soc220-D'Unger Fall
2003) devoted to this class. The site includes a "Juvenile Delinquency Discussion Forum," to be
moderated by Teaching Assistant Beth Tarasawa. This conference site is for discussing materials
and questions raised in class, posing questions not covered in class, clarifying issues that are
unclear, integrating information from the news and current events with topics being discussed in
class, and sharing your opinions and ideas on course material. You are expected to actively
participate in on-line discussion in a thoughtful, intellectual, and respectful manner. You will be
expected to participate through both posting questions/comments and responding to

1
 questions/comments posted by other students. Your participation will be based on both the quality
and quantity of your comments. The Teaching Assistant will monitor the thoughtfulness and
intellectual rigor of the messages.

In-class and on-line participation will count for 15% of your final grade.

(2) Examinations: There will be two exams for the course: a midterm and a final exam. The midterm
will be held on October 8th and will count for 20% of your grade. The final exam will be in-class
on December 12th from 4:30 - 7:00 PM. The final exam will count for 25% of your grade.

(3) Term paper: There will be one term paper required for the course. The paper will be due on
November 24th and will count for 25% of your grade. It should be 8-10 pages in length. No late
papers will be accepted. You will be required to write a one-paragraph term paper proposal, due
on October 20th. Paper topics must be approved before you can proceed with the paper!

(4) In-class presentations: Each student must make a brief (10 minute) presentation on his/her term
paper research. The presentation should include an overview of the topic/question/problem, the
information that you have discovered through your research, and your conclusions. A presentation
date (in the final weeks of class) will be assigned to you. The paper presentation will count for
15% of your final grade.

**In addition, there is a possibility for guest speakers, field trips, and/or films during the semester.

Accommodating Disabilities:

If you have or acquire any sort of condition that may require special accommodation(s), please inform
me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (e.g., not the day of an exam) so that we may make the appropriate
arrangements. Proper documentation from the Office of Disabilities Services will be required. Please
contact their office to get more information on available services and accommodations, as well as
documentation requirements. They can be reach at 404-727-1065 or via the web at
http://www.emory.edu/EEO/ODS/.

Academic Conduct:

All students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the policies of Emory College with
respect to conduct and academic honesty. Anyone engaging in acts that violate these policies, such as
plagiarism or cheating, will be referred to the Honors Council. For more information on the code of
conduct, see http://www.emory.edu/CAMPUS_LIFE/conduct.code.html. For more information on the
Emory Honor Code, see http://www.emory.edu/COLLEGE/students/honor.html.

Make-Up Policy:

My permission is needed to make-up exams and response papers. (Having work/exams in another
class will NOT get you my permission.) If you are going to miss an exam or assignment, please make
every effort to notify me before the missed class and to gather appropriate material to justify your
absence (e.g., a note from your physician if you are ill). If you are unable to notify me before the
class/due date, please try to have a friend, roommate, etc. contact me via e-mail and inform me of your
absence. A mutually convenient time will be arranged for you to make up the assignment. Make up

2
assignments will only be allowed in a situation of an excused absence (e.g., illness, family emergency,
etc.). A note from the Dean will be required to make up the final exam.

The use of cell phones and/or pagers is not permitted in this class. Please turn OFF your phones and
pagers before entering the classroom. Those who violate this policy will be asked to leave the class for
the day.

So, How Can I Succeed in This Course?

(1) Attend class and be on time--there is nothing more disruptive to your learning than missing class
and there is nothing more disruptive to other students than individuals who come in late and interrupt
the lecture and class discussion.

(2) Do the reading!!! It will help you to participate in class discussions, in the on-line conference
forum, and in succeeding on the exams.

(3) Notes, notes, notes. Take notes on each of the readings. What is the main point of the
article/chapter? What is the theory trying to explain? How can this be integrated with other material
discussed in class and the texts? etc. etc. These notes will be valuable study tools for the exams.
Also, study in groups--other may pick up on material that you overlooked, and vice-versa.

(4) The reading load varies from class to class. Anticipate days with heavier reading and START
EARLY.

(5) Start thinking about your paper well BEFORE the one paragraph proposal is due. A well thought-
out paper proposal aids in producing a great paper.

(6) Take the on-line discussion seriously. It is an important forum for communication, particularly for
those students who might be shy about talking in class. If you don't speak up in class very often, speak
up on-line!

Course Schedule

DATE TOPIC/ASSIGNMENT DUE READINGS

August 29 Introduction

September 1 LABOR DAY--NO CLASS

September 3 The Study of Delinquency A ch. 1

September 5 How Do We Measure Delinquency? A ch. 2

September 8 How Do We Measure Delinquency?, cont…

September 10 How Much Delinquency is There? A ch. 3

3
DATE TOPIC/ASSIGNMENT DUE READINGS

September 12 Who Are the Delinquents? A ch. 4

An Intro & ch. 1

September 15 Who Are the Delinquents?, cont… An ch. 2

September 17 Causality and Delinquency A ch. 5

An ch. 3

September 19 Strain Theory A ch. 6

September 22 Strain Theory, cont… An ch. 4

September 24 Social Learning Theory A ch. 7

September 26 Social Learning Theory, cont… An ch. 5

September 29 Control Theory A ch. 8

October 1 Control Theory, cont… An ch. 6

October 3 Other Theories of Crime TBA

October 6 How Do We Apply Theory? A ch. 9

An ch. 7 & Concl.

October 8 MIDTERM EXAMINATION

October 10 Individual Traits and Delinquency A ch. 10

October 13 FALL BREAK--NO CLASS

October 15 Schools and Delinquency A ch. 12

October 17 Delinquent Peers & Gangs A ch. 13

October 20 Socialization and the Social A ch. 14

Environment
PAPER PROPOSALS DUE

October 22 Socialization and the Social

Environment, cont…

4
DATE TOPIC/ASSIGNMENT DUE READINGS

October 24 Drug Use, Guns, and Teens A ch. 15

October 27 Can We Create an Integrated Theory? A ch. 16

October 29 The Development of “Juvenile Justice” H pp. 11-70

October 31 The Development of "Juvenile Justice,"

cont…

November 3 Controlling Delinquency: What Works A ch. 17

and What Doesn't

November 5 Controlling Delinquency: What Works H pp. 71-155

and What Doesn't, cont…

November 7 Cops and Kids A ch. 18

H pp. 159-225

November 10 The Juvenile Court System A ch. 19

H pp. 226-292

November 12 Is There Discrimination in the Juvenile A ch. 20

Court System? H pp. 293-334

November 14 Deterrence and Incapacitation: How Do A ch. 21

We Punish Juveniles? H pp. 335-371

November 17 Prevention, Treatment, and A ch. 22

Rehabilitation

November 19 So What Do We Do Now? A ch. 23

November 21 AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY CONFERENCE

NO CLASS

November 24 TERM PAPERS DUE

November 26 THANKSGIVING BREAK--NO CLASS

November 28 THANKSGIVING BREAK--NO CLASS

December 1 Paper Presentations

December 3 Paper Presentations

December 5 Paper Presentations

5
DATE TOPIC/ASSIGNMENT DUE READINGS

December 8 Wrap Up and Review for Final

Key to the Readings:

A=Agnew (Juvenile Delinquency)

An=Anderson (Code of the Street)
H=Humes (No Matter How Loud I Shout)

***The final examination will be held in Tarbutton Hall, Room 105 on Friday, December 12th from
4:30 to 7:00 PM.

How the Final Grade Will be Determined:

Participation 15% A 94+ C 74-76
Midterm Examination 20% A- 90-93 C- 70-73
Term Paper 25% B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
In-Class Presentation 15% B 84-86 D 64-66
Final Examination + 25% B- 80-83 D- 60-63
100% C+ 77-79 F below 60