JUVENILE JUSTICE

by Willard A. Heaps ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 11, 1974

A staccato, statistic-filled source book on justice for juveniles that follows every step of the process from crime and apprehension to parole and detention centers, with special emphasis on the rights of minors and their frequent violation. Heaps doesn't delve into the causes and possible solutions of serious delinquency (most of the cases concern minor offenses); nor, in light of the fact that an estimated majority of youth break the law at some time, does he question whether some ""crimes"" ought to be illegal at all. (One girl, caught smoking pot, is given a probation officer to help her ""kick the habit."") But Heaps' personally researched case histories raise questions about the punitive philosophies of many judges, the injustices of plea bargaining, inequities in the treatment of juveniles and adults (and between boy and girl offenders), the conditions in detention homes, etc. There is so much raw material here, energetically compiled, that it's too bad it had to be presented in such a compressed format, but the issues are effectively pinpointed.

Pub Date: Nov. 11, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 194

Publisher: Seabury

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1974

Categories: NONFICTION