ABSTRACT
Children in immigrant families tended to live in crowded neighborhoods that were under police surveillance. This meant that youngsters involved in rather minor offenses were more likely to come to the attention of the authorities. Native-born American parents could protect their children from run-ins with the law. Many Americans believed that the problem of juvenile delinquency among immigrants could be addressed by stopping the influx of foreigners. Most important Lathrop and her Hull House sisters believed that immigrant behavior and immigrant culture could change. They rejected the exclusionary approach in favor of efforts to help immigrants adapt to American urban life. Providing badly needed social services to newly arrived immigrants could address problems of criminality and help immigrants find adequate housing and employment. Juvenile justice reformers especially worried about the numbers of young immigrant women brought to court on charges of prostitution.
