Subculture,Gang Involvement,and Delinquency: A Study of Incarcerated Youth in China

The purpose of this study is to examine youth gang phenomena in China employing a two-step approach. The first step is to apply the delinquent subculture perspective to the explanation of variation in gang involvement; the second is to investigate the relationship between youth gang involvement and self-reported delinquency. The data for the study were collected from face-to-face interviews conducted with adjudicated youth offenders incarcerated in a province-run juvenile prison. Structural equation modeling is used to assess the direct and indirect effects of delinquent subculture exposure and gang involvement on three outcome variables of delinquency. The primary finding is that exposure to a subculture of violence is indeed a significant predictor of gang involvement. Importantly, gang involvement is significantly correlated with both violent offending and drug offending.     

The Long Arm of Poverty: Extended and Relational Geographies of Child Victimization and Neighborhood Violence Exposures

Current models of neighborhood effects on victimization predominantly assume that residential neighborhoods function independent of their surroundings. Yet, a surprising proportion of violence occurs outside of victims’ residential neighborhoods. The current study extends on recent advances in spatial dynamics and neighborhood effects to explore the importance of different geographic scales and relational exposures to poverty for child violent victimization. We examine longitudinal data on over 4400 low-income children from high poverty neighborhoods in five cities, who participated in the Moving to Opportunity randomized intervention. The results suggest that surrounding poverty matters for child victimization beyond the effect of residential poverty. Moreover, moving farther from extreme poverty also seems to buffer against victimization and to amplify the benefits of moving to improved extended (residential and surrounding) neighborhoods. All the children in the study, but especially boys older than 10 years of age, seemed to be affected by the long arm of poverty.     

INVOLVING YOUTH IN THE DEPENDENCY COURT PROCESS: THE WASHINGTON STATE EXPERIENCE

In 2008, the Washington State legislature established a pilot program in four designated sites wherein youth ages twelve years and older had the right to (1) receive notice of all dependency hearings that involve them, (2) be present at such hearings, and (3) be heard personally. Pursuant to the legislation, upon request by the youth, the court participating in the pilot program is permitted to conduct an in‐chambers interview with the youth to determine his or her wishes regarding issues pending before the court. The legislation further required that the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Department of Social and Health Services collaborate in implementing and assessing the effectiveness of the program. This article details the development of the pilot program, its implementation, and evaluation results as of the date of this publication.     

DISRUPTING THE PATHWAY FROM FOSTER CARE TO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM—A FORMER PROSECUTOR'S PERSPECTIVES ON REFORM

Nearly half a million children are victims of abuse and neglect and part of our foster care system. Over time, many of these youth cross into our juvenile and then adult justice systems; some will end up as federal offenders, immersed in a process where mandated penalties provide little room for flexibility or consideration of the characteristics and needs of the individual. This article will offer the perspectives of a former prosecutor and child welfare advocate on: (i) the current conditions and challenges within our foster care system—the feeder for many youth into gangs and criminal activity; (ii) the misaligned priorities and disheartening patterns we currently see in our justice system; and (iii) the ill‐advised practices, that set our nation apart from the rest of the world, allowing juvenile offenders to receive life without parole sentences. The article will then discuss a series of recommendations in all of these areas that would enable us to turn the corner and chart an improved and more hopeful path for our nation's vulnerable and at‐risk children and youth.     

社会资本论视角下的“拼爹游戏”解析

在就业竞争越来越激烈的形势下,＂拼爹游戏＂日益严重,这种现象引起了社会各界的广泛关注。从社会资本论角度看,＂拼爹游戏＂是子女对父母所拥有的社会资源的承袭,这种现象的发展,会造成社会规范失控,妨碍社会流动,不利于实现社会公平。     

在比较与借鉴意义上加强青年国家忠诚教育

在国家观念教育层次上开展更富有现代公民教育特点的国家忠诚教育,是各国普遍重视的内容。其中,美国、俄罗斯等国家的公民忠诚教育在教育对象、教育载体、教育保障、教育科研等方面的探索,可以为我国开展公民教育提供有益借鉴。我国的青年国家忠诚教育,可以在人群范围、法律依据和制度监控、挖掘和开发中华民族传统文化中＂忠诚＂教育的精华思想、坚持不懈地长期开展公民仪式教育等方面尝试创新和深化。     

高校青年管理干部队伍建设问题探讨——基于赫兹伯格的双因素理论分析

高校管理是提升高校办学水平和办学效益的重要方面,青年管理干部是高校管理工作的骨干力量,努力建设一支高水平的管理干部队伍对于高校发展有着举足轻重的作用。针对当前高校青年管理干部中普遍存在的问题,按照赫兹伯格的双因素理论的要求,既要保证保健因素的基础性作用,更要拓展激励因素的内涵,不断激发青年管理干部的工作积极性和创造性,进而推动整个学校的健康发展。     

青年志愿服务的现实作用和文化意义——以抗震救灾和北京奥运会为例

青年志愿者服务活动不仅对自身、他人、社会和国家都产生了深远的影响,更体现了集体主义和道德价值,满足了不同层次的心理需要,而且还弘扬了民族精神,升华了文化意识。     

关于青年志愿服务国家性立法缺位的思考

我国志愿服务国家性立法的缺位,导致青年志愿服务中的诸多纠纷日益暴露。根据我国青年志愿服务的立法现状和我国地方性志愿服务立法的有益尝试,借鉴志愿服务成熟国家的立法经验,要健全我国青年志愿服务法律保障机制,目前亟须做好三项工作：（1）出台《志愿者组织法》,规范青年志愿者组织;（2）科学细化青年志愿服务的责任;（3）明确保障青年志愿者的合法权益。     

The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018: Updating the Federal Approach to Youth Involved,and At‐Risk of Becoming Involved,in the Juvenile Justice System

On December 21, 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act was signed into law, marking the first update in 16 years to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended. The reforms reflect much of the knowledge that has been gained through research and science over the past decade and strengthen the Act’s core protections for youth in the juvenile justice system. The changes also expand the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s role in research, and technical assistance, and provide for additional oversight for related programs.