Marilyn D. McShane and Michael R. Cavanaugh: Understanding Juvenile Justice and Delinquency

Understanding Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, edited by Marilyn D. McShane and Michael Cavanaugh, closely examines the relationship between juvenile delinquents and the justice system. McShane and Cavanaugh exquisitely point out the flaws and failures of a system modeled after one which handles adults, while also pondering the needs that are exclusive to juveniles, and how the system could adapt to fulfill these needs. The authors work to make clear that society’s mindset about offending youth is almost entirely negative, and this inhibits the potential for rehabilitation exponentially. Instead, they suggest the goal of the system should focus more on a lack of penetration in young offenders’ lives by keeping the less serious offenses out and providing tailored resources to admitted and incarcerated youth. While the topics of the book are valuable to any reader, McShane and Cavanaugh seek to specifically target those studying criminal justice, as they control and maintain the system while also vying for change when it is necessary. This book functions as both an assessment and a proposal for change. The authors provide facts and analyses of their points, as well as an examination of their potential changes, which helps to both persuade and educate the reader on both the current and ideal system. This leads to the idea that perhaps the editors are focused on particulars rather than the broad spectrum of the system’s function, but overall they are succinct, persuasive, and provide compelling evidence for their analysis and ideas. …