ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a review of major sociological perspectives in the field of criminology and their application to juvenile homicide offenders (JHOs), including (1) social learning and subcultural theories; (2) classical and general strain theory; (3) techniques of neutralization; (4) social bond theory; (5) the general theory of crime; (6) labeling theory; (7) social disorganization theory and collective efficacy; (8) institutional anomie theory; and (9) social conflict and Marxist theory. While little research has been conducted to examine these individual- and macro-level sociological perspectives using JHOs specifically, the existing research on juvenile delinquency and youth violence suggests the need for further empirical studies to assess the explanatory power and validity of these theories in JHO samples. The chapter also discusses policy implications for these perspectives and highlights directions for future research testing the effects of these prominent sociological constructs on juvenile homicide.
