Should teenagers who commit serious crimes be tried as juveniles or adults in our criminal system? What constitutes a "serious" enough crime to justify such a decision and what age of the defendant is critical to this determination? These are questions that face our criminal justice system every day and face our society as we develop prosecution procedures for certain defendants. Juvenile justice professionals have a firm understanding of criminal laws and procedures and make sure the proper standards are applied to juvenile offenders both for purposes of criminal proceedings, incarceration and protection.

The Juvenile Justice program is designed to prepare learners to address exactly these questions by introducing the concepts, principles and practices of the juvenile justice system to students. Learners will take an in-depth look at juvenile law and the unique role of the courts in these circumstances, as well as the corrections systems that will apply to them. Learners will analyze the different socioeconomic considerations that must be weighed in addressing juvenile justice issues, as well as the way social service agencies (treatment, child protective services, etc.) interact, aid or impede the formal juvenile justice system.

This program gives learners an overview of American juvenile justice in terms of both system and practice. It examines the juvenile offender, causes of juvenile crime, the juvenile court system, and juveniles in the adult court system. The program also looks at the institutionalization, rehabilitation, and treatment of juveniles, and the future of juvenile justice in America.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Appraise the connection between childhood and delinquency
• Determine the nature and extent of delinquency
• Describe individual views of delinquency
• Examine the structure, process, culture, and delinquency
• Analyze social reaction, social conflict, and delinquency
• Define developmental theories of delinquency: life-course, propensity, and trajectory
• Describe the connection between gender and delinquency
• Determine how family can influence delinquency
• Appraise peers and delinquency: juvenile gangs and groups
• Examine schools and delinquency
• Analyze delinquency prevention: social and developmental perspectives
• Examine juvenile justice: then and now
• Describe police work with juveniles
• Determine the juvenile court process: pretrial, trial, and sentencing
• Appraise juvenile corrections: probation, community treatment, and institutionalization
• Examine the connection between delinquency and juvenile justice abroad

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the opportunity to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Juvenile Justice (CJ-JUVI)

Optional Volunteer Externship Opportunity

Learners who complete this program are eligible to participate in an optional volunteer externship opportunity with a local company/agency/organization whose work aligns with this area of study in order to gain valuable hands-on experience.  As learners progress through their eLearning program, an Externship Coordinator will reach out to coordinate placement.

Note: Additional documentation including health records, immunizations, drug-screening, criminal background checks, etc. may be required by the externship facility.