Course description: Topics associated with juvenile delinquency, as this phenomena is defined in the United States, are presented in this course. It begins with a discussion of the social and legal definition of delinquency and moves to a description of the police and juvenile justice system. The latter is examined as an inquisitorial system and contrasted with the adversarial adult courts. Next, the amount and distribution of delinquent acts, as revealed in police arrest data and self-report surveys, is critically evaluated. A description of collective and individual delinquecy is followed by a review of a variety of biological, psychological and sociological explanations of the behavior. The course concludes with a consideration of public responses which attempt to control, deter, and rehabilitate those involved in delinquent behavior.