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The age-crime curve is a well-known and consistently demonstrated trend within criminological literature. This trend shows that deviant and offending behaviour peaks during adolescence, followed by a sharp decline, levelling out by mid to late 20s. During the adolescent years, young people will/may engage with a variety of community institutes actively involved in the lives of young people during their development years. Individuals located in these institutes include teachers, employers, health services professionals and community group leaders. More specifically as it relates to juvenile justice - youth workers, police, and courts and corrections workers. Duet to the higher frequency of deviant and offending behaviour during adolescent years, as well as the various community institutes young people are likely to be connected with, studies of youth, deviance and offending are applicable to a broad range of students beyond those studying criminology and law. Studies of youth, deviancy and juvenile justice course is relevant for any student anticipating a career where they are likely to encounter young people. Students will gain insights into the explanations, issues and challenges of deviancy and offending among young people. In addition, by developing an understanding of deviancy and offending during adolescence, and the additional challenges associated with Indigeneity, ethnicity, socio-economic status and gender, students will be equipped with a broader knowledge base in responding to and dealing with young offenders within the context of their own careers.

Adolescence is a time of great change and development during a person's life. Also, during the adolescent years is when the rate of deviant and offending behaviour peaks. This course introduces students to theoretical explanations around why offending behaviour is most problematic amongst juveniles. The history of juvenile justice and the institutes in place to provide justice services to young offenders, as well as the various justice models that guide these responses is also examined. Students will learn that dealing with young offenders requires a number of special considerations. For example, the socio-demographic characteristics of young people such as socio-economic status, Indigeneity, ethnicity, and gender lead to differential ways that young people are dealt with and processed through the juvenile justice system. These social dynamics are examined during this course as well as the juvenile justice system's responses to young people who offend, the challenges associated with those responses, punishment of young offenders and alternative responses that emphasise rehabilitation.

On successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. explain theoretical explanations around juvenile delinquency and offending;
2. articulate the importance for particular responses to delinquency among disadvantaged groups;
3. critically appraise juvenile justice responses to delinquents and young offenders;
4. communicate responses to questions about youth offending, in writing and verbally;
5. contribute independent thought to a variety of topics associated with youth, deviancy and juvenile justice.