Youth Justice (YTHJ)

The course introduces students to the structure and functions of the American juvenile justice system (JJS) and situates the JJS within the web of other youth-serving systems, most importantly, the child welfare system (CWS). The course also covers the characteristics of adolescents who come into contact with the JJS and CWS. A developmental perspective is used to understand the diverse pathways of juvenile delinquency, emphasizing the pivotal role that family, trauma, mental health difficulties and school play in youths' involvement in crime. This is a required course for the youth justice minor.

This course is designed to integrate and apply knowledge from the student's major and the youth justice minor. The course emphasizes the application of knowledge through the development and implementation of a substantial, theory-based, in-depth individualized project around issues and/or challenges in the juvenile justice system with an emphasis on the population of dual status youth. Students may adapt the project to fit their career objectives and/or plans for graduate study.

This is an independent study course designed to allow students to receive academic credit for work experience in a youth justice setting related to the youth justice minor. Students enrolled in YTHJ 405 will arrange their work schedule with their internship provider and will consult with the faculty member of record for the course to obtain approval for their final research paper topic. Course may be taken twice.