Youth, Crime & the Law

Curriculum Guideline

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Course
CRIM 2253
Discontinued
No
Course Code
CRIM 2253
Descriptive
Youth, Crime & the Law
Department
Criminology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours
Lecture: 4 hrs. per week / semester
Learning Activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:

 

  • lectures
  • audio visual aids
  • guest speakers
  • field trips
  • class discussion
Course Description
This course focuses on identification, reaction, and response to youth crime and deviance. Historical and contemporary contexts are examined. Attention is given to the social construction of the young offender and the emerging criticisms of this label. Theoretical explanations of deviant and criminal behaviour, along with an analysis of the Youth Criminal Justice Act and its application, including components of the justice system, programs and agencies related to youth misconduct are discussed. A series of current trends and topics will also be explored.
Course Content
  1.  Socio-cultural Context of Youth Crime
  2.  The Models of Juvenile Justice
  3.  Theoretical Exploration of Youth Criminality
  4.  The Measurement of Youth Crime
  5.  The History of Legal Responses to Youth Crime in Canada
  6.  The Youth Criminal Justice Act
  7.  Youth Corrections and Alternative Approaches
  8.  The Prevention of Youth Crime
  9.  Current Topics in Youth Justice
  • substance abuse
  • poverty
  • Indigenous youth
  • gang-involved youth
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

 

  1. Describe the socio-cultural context in which youth crime and its response occurs.
  2. Discuss the historical evolution of Canada’s legal response to youth crime.
  3. Describe characteristics of young offenders as indicated in social science research.
  4. Evaluate the models of juvenile justice.
  5. Apply theories of crime to youth misconduct.
  6. Construct a legal analysis of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
  7. Critically analyze the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
  8. Describe effective crime prevention programs involving youth.
  9. Compare Canada’s response to young offenders to that of other countries.
  10. Analyze one or more related topics of the instructor’s choice.
Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  The instructor will provide written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on some of the following:  quizzes, exams, term papers, research projects, oral presentations, and class participation/attendance.

 

An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:

Exam I   20%
Exam II   20%
Term Paper   20%
Presentation             10%
Final exam   30%
Total  100%

 

 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A textbook such as one of the following:

 

Bell, Sandra J. (2017). Young Offenders and Youth Justice (5th ed.). Nelson Education Ltd.

Winterdyk, John and Smandych, Russell. (2016). Youth at Risk and Youth Justice (2nd ed.). Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press.

Oudshoorn, Judah. (2015). Trauma-informed Youth Justice in Canada. Toronto, ON: Canadian Scholars' Press.

 

Textbooks will be updated periodically. Supplemental readings will be distributed by the instructor as needed.

Prerequisites

CRIM 1150