Welcome to the William Gladden Foundation library of educational materials about Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Justice. These publications are FREE to read on-line or download to hardcopy and reproduce. They are specifically designed to help delinquent youth and their families understand the intricacies of juvenile delinquency and the juvenile justice system, and to provide insights about how to help troubled kids resolve their problems.
William Gladden Foundation studied the adult outcomes of 1,000 former court-adjudicated delinquent youth and learned that early intervention and appropriate treatment are critical to their recovery. Troubled kids are acting-out problems they cannot understand or resolve on their own. They require the supervision, guidance and wisdom of trained juvenile justice professionals who are committed to helping them turn their lives around. When the Juvenile Court intervenes swiftly and decisively on behalf of troubled kids, and closely monitors their behaviors for an extended period of time (either through probation services or placement in an appropriate treatment program), most delinquents DO NOT become adult offenders.
We encourage Juvenile Court personnel and other professionals working with troubled youth to make the following materials available to their clients and their clients' families, so that they understand what is happening to them and thereby increase the potential to "reclaim" troubled youth.
Aggression And Violence In Youth, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., Thomas A. Newnam, B.A. and Robert M. Wilson, Ph.D., 4,628 words, 18 pages. The American family is experiencing tremendous stress. For example, nearly 60% of all marriages end in divorce and over 25% of America's children currently live in single-parent homes. Furthermore, domestic violence is on the rise with almost two million cases of battered women reported each year; two million cases of child abuse and neglect reported each year; and the number of reported cases of elderly abuse growing at an alarming rate. However, the rise of aggressive and violent behaviors also includes other social institutions. For example, the number of gangs, cults and other radical youth groups continues to grow. Television, movies and cartoons bombard viewers with physical and verbal conflict. Hostile and violent themes fill rock music with negative messages. Aggression and violence bombard American children, both within the home and throughout society. Given these facts, is it any wonder that hostile and disruptive behaviors are increasing in America's youth population'
Children Who Tell Lies, by Warren A. Rhodes, Ph.D., 3,521 words, 15 pages. Parents and teachers want their children and students to be honest. In fact, both parents and teachers rank honesty as the most desirable characteristic they wish to see in their children and students. Furthermore, childhood lying is the characteristic least liked by parents and teachers. Most children 'bend the truth' at some point in their development. For example, many parents have heard their very young child describe a make-believe friend or caught a child fibbing to avoid punishment. However, when these behaviors extend into middle childhood, or occur frequently, parents should be concerned. Frequent lying in children is likely to create hostility, mistrust and feelings of betrayal in parents, causing potential problems in the parent/child relationship. Parents also often fear that this behavior may be symptomatic or a more serious problem. This publication explores the many aspects of lying in childhood.
Don't Ever Give Up:The Power of Belief in Promoting a Turnaround, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 1,857 words, 4 pages. A 1995 article in the journal Reclaiming Children & Youth in which the author discusses the importance of child welfare professionals believing in the children with whom they work, and how one probation officer helped him to turn his life around.
From The Jailhouse To The White House, by Warren A. Rhodes, Ph.D., 3,248 words, 10 pages. Today, Dr. Rhodes is Dean, School of Psychology, Morgan State University, but his troubled youth belies his adult outcome. A former gang member, thief, fire setter and drug addict, the young Warren failed several grades, dropped out of school, shot a friend in the chest and was committed to a juvenile reformatory and sentenced to jail. Feeling guilty for nearly killing his brother in a gang fight, Warren decided he had to change his life. This riveting autobiography details how the author committed himself to overcoming his past problems and, after years of struggle, earned his degrees and President Jimmy Carter's wife asked him to speak about his life at the White House.
How I Turned My Life Around: Tips From An Ex-Juvenile Delinquent, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,345 words, 15 pages. In this autobiographical workbook, the author relates the causes of his troubled youth and provides insights about how he turned his life around, prompting readers to answer questions about their lives and develop a personal plan for change.
Juvenile Fire Setters, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., and Thomas A. Newnam, B.A., 4,278 words, 16 pages. America is burning! According to FBI statistics, the United States has the highest rate of arson in the world. Arson is America's fastest growing crime. Arson quadrupled during the 1970s and it continues to rise in the 21st century at an alarming rate. The FBI index reports that juvenile and adult arsons cause an annual average of over 550,000 fires, almost 750 deaths, over 3,600 injuries and about 1.5 billion dollars in property loss. The crime index also states that 55% of all arson arrests in the United States are children under age 18. Nearly half of these are age 15 or younger, and around seven percent are under age ten. The crime of arson has the highest rate of juvenile involvement. The most common background among juvenile fire setters is a troubled family life. Problems such as domestic violence, poor family relationships, abuse and neglect cause many children to set fires and commit other delinquent acts. Their fire setting behavior is often a symbolic expression of inner pain and a cry for help.
Juvenile Sex Offenders, by Cynthia A. Godbey, M.A., and Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,627 words, 16 pages. What is the most appropriate way to deal with juvenile sex offenders? What role should the family play in dealing with juvenile sex offenders? These are but a few of the many questions that need addressing about juvenile sex offenders. Until recently, however, sex offenses committed by minors were considered 'developmentally normal curiosity,' 'adjustment reactions,' or 'experimentation.' The court overlooked even clearly exploitative sex offenses committed by juveniles. Seldom was there an attempt made to address the sexual behavior. As a result, little attention was given to studying the causes or cures. By 1983, however, researchers established that most adult sex offenders had committed sex offenses as kids, and by 1988, clinical reports determined that some juvenile offenders had begun their offensive behaviors by age five. That is why a report from the National Task Force on Juvenile Offending concluded that early detection and treatment of sex offenders is critical. Intervention is especially important because kids are in the early stages of physical and emotional development and tend not to have an established pattern of behavior. More importantly, the potential for repeat offending by adolescents and the development of a pattern that continues into adulthood indicates that early detection and treatment can significantly reduce the number of sexual abuse victims of all ages.
Juvenile Prostitution, by Carle F. O'Neil, M.A., M.S.W., and Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 4,089 words, 16 pages. Why juvenile prostitution has ballooned over recent decades (paralleling the rise of gangs, violence, drug abuse and other crimes committed by young people) is a complex matter. Some contributing factors include 1) the number of broken and dysfunctional families, 2) the so-called 'sexual revolution,' 3) the increase of drug abuse, 4) the breakdown of cultural values and 5) the prevalence of sexual images in music, magazines, television and on the Internet. A main cause of juvenile prostitution is the number of young people who take to the streets as runaways or 'throwaways.' Up to one million American children run away from home each year, and parents throw out another 150,000 from their homes. Finding themselves unprepared to get and keep jobs, some of these kids turn to prostitution as a way to survive.
Juvenile Theft, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., Thomas A. Newnam, B.A., and Warren A. Rhodes, Ph.D., 4,999 words, 17 pages. Juvenile theft is a common form of delinquent behavior that most children participate in at least once. For the majority of juveniles, theft is merely an isolated incident. For a smaller population of juveniles, theft is a part of 'fitting in' with a peer group, and will be 'outgrown' by young adulthood. For a very small percentage of these delinquent youth, theft is a central part of a developing criminal lifestyle, and they may continue to steal or commit other illegal activities as adults. Many of these chronic delinquents will end up in jail or prison. Juvenile theft is usually an early indicator of other problems. It is a symbolic way by which some juveniles display their unhappiness and insecurity. Theft is one of the first delinquent acts juveniles commit. Young children tend to begin stealing at or near home by taking objects or money from family members, friends, neighbors or local stores. Juveniles who continue to steal, and who do not receive help in resolving their problems, can develop a negative pattern of behavior that may grow worse and result in more frequent and more serious delinquent acts.
So You're In Juvey: A Kid's Guide To Juvenile Justice, by John W. Biggers, J.D., and Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,386 words, 14 pages. The workings of the juvenile justice system are a mystery to most children, especially first-time offenders. Written at the middle-school reading level, this publication explains the juvenile justice process and defines the terminology and process kids need to know to understand what is happening to them.
So You're On Trial In Juvey, by John W. Biggers, J.D., and Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,231 words, 14 pages. This publication explains how the judge, lawyers and everybody else involved in a Juvenile Court trial must work, and how the rights of the accused are protected. Written at the middle-school reading level, this publication helps the young reader understand what happens at a Juvenile Court trial, defining the process from police investigation to final disposition.
The Uroboros: A True Story About Overcoming A Troubled Childhood, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,760 words, 12 pages. In this revealing autobiographical account, written for troubled and delinquent youth, the author tells of the years spent growing up in a dysfunctional family. Abandoned by his father prior to age 11 and raised by an obsessive-compulsive mother, the emotionally disturbed young boy begins a downward spiral of attempted suicides, school failures, delinquent behaviors and institutional placements. He becomes a ward of the juvenile court, and from age 13 through 17, he is placed in an orphanage, juvenile detention home, state psychiatric hospital and juvenile reformatory. By using the ancient symbol of the "self-begetting Uroboros," (a snake biting its own tail) the author explains to troubled youth how his family problems caused him to have problems in other areas of life in a never-ending circle of pain and self-destruction, until he decided to change his behaviors. Also included are ten review questions to help reinforce the story's message.
Violence In America's Schools, by Ronald E. Sharp, Ed.D., and Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,965 words, 16 pages. The Center for Disease Control states that one student in five takes a weapon to school and one in 20 carries a gun. The problem has become so pronounced that one in four of America's school systems use metal detectors to search students for weapons. The problem of school violent is not new. It came to the forefront of public awareness in the early 1970s. The hearings of the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency and the House Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary and Vocational Education documented the escalating violence in America's schools. Since 1969, the Gallup Poll has surveyed Americans regarding their attitudes toward public education. School discipline (violence) ranks as the most important problem almost every year, and the public has a right to be concerned. Over the past few decades, violence in America's schools has increased to the highest levels in history. Parents are worried about the safety of their children and question whether schools can protect them. Although school violence is a major national problem, many schools experience little or no violence. Urban schools in the major metropolitan areas have the greatest risk of school violence, while suburban schools have a higher ranking than do rural schools. Although many schools do not have a problem with violence, the issue is increasing in intensity and expanding into areas once considered immune to the problem. Understand that all schools have the potential for violent crimes, and therefore must be prepared through policies, procedures and training to handle such events.
What Parents Should Know About Juvenile Delinquency And Juvenile Justice, by Waln K. Brown, Ph.D., 3,750 words, 15 pages. The experts still do not understand the causes and cures of juvenile delinquency. Small wonder that parents do not know 'what to do' about their child's misconduct. Similarly, most parents do not know how the juvenile justice system works. The experience can be confusing, difficult and frightening, for children and their parents. This publication attempts to answer some of the questions parents ask about juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice; it is an interpretation of the author's views and experiences and is purposely stated in general terms. Thus, there are limitations to this publication. It does not contain all the information on juvenile delinquency or juvenile justice and does not propose cures. Juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice are complex topics: every child is different and has special problems and needs; the juvenile justice system differs from place to place. What this publication does try to do is offer a point of reference. It is up to the reader to turn this information into a plan of action.
