Policing Juveniles

AbstractThe historic experience of the police and juveniles parallels that of the emergence and development of the juvenile court and juvenile justice system. Just as the juvenile court has faced contradictory pressures inherent in the tension between community crime control and the individualized needs of youth, so too have the police. Policing juveniles involves responding to the diverse range of juvenile crime and delinquency. Contemporary policing has been influenced by a number of philosophies including community policing, problem-solving, and evidence-based policing. All of these models appear to hold some promise for improving practice related to policing juveniles. Community partnerships with schools, youth service organizations, parents, neighborhood groups, employers, recreational programs, and other local agencies and institutions offer promise for enhancing prevention and intervention efforts.