ABSTRACT
It is a fairly universally acknowledged fact that young people represent a subservient class and are comparatively powerless and that concerns about the welfare and discipline of young persons have plagued societies for centuries. Even Socrates is reported to have commented on the plight of young people. Furthermore, if we were to examine the history of child-rearing/disciplinary patterns throughout, then we would nd that our ideas about how to raise and discipline children have been fraught with ambiguity, inconsistency, and fundamental ignorance concerning the nature of youth. deMause (1974) and Ariès (1962) oer insightful reviews as well as opposing perspectives on the evolution of views of children and youth throughout the ages (see Box 1.1). For example, deMause asserts that “the history of childhood is a nightmare from which we have just begun to awaken” (1974, 1). In spite of their dierent approaches, deMause and Ariès share a perspective that speaks to the challenges societies have faced in trying to raise children into adults regardless of social class or culture as well as what constitutes appropriate social
Delinquency as a Growing International Enigma 3 Models of Juvenile Justice 7 International Standards and Guidelines for the Treatment of Young Oenders 8
Highlights of the UNCRC 12 Rationale for Comparative Studies 17
Sentencing Polices 18 Juvenile Crime: A Global Phenomenon 18
Challenges with Comparative Studies 19 Organization of is Book 20 Acknowledgment 21 Review/Discussion Questions 21 References 22 Internet Sources 24
justice for youth at risk. e plight of young persons throughout the ages and even today remains an issue of power and the powerless between the state and young persons (see, for example, Whyte 2009). e issue of juvenile justice is a global phenomenon whose issues transcend borders.
