ABSTRACT
Controversies have surrounded the functions, scope, and goals of the juvenile justice system since its inception, and the same is true of explanations of juvenile offending. It will become clear to the reader that those who explore the etiology of delinquency have a difficult task at hand. “Juvenile delinquency” encompasses a wide variety of behaviors committed by juveniles, and theories of delinquency vary in their breadth and depth. Fundamentally, Classical and Positivistic theories of delinquency fall into several paradigms that differ regarding human nature (free will versus determinism).
