Juvenile Justice: A Guide to Theory, Policy, and Practice

“The text is written from a practical standpoint, which students are likely to understand and appreciate.”

—Lindsey Livingston Runell, J.D., Ph.D., Kutztown University

Brief, focused, and up-to-date, Juvenile Justice: A Guide to Theory, Policy, and Practice, Ninth Edition, by Steven M. Cox, Jennifer M. Allen, and Robert D. Hanser, is a must-have text that takes students on a journey through the practical realities of the juvenile justice system and the most current topics in the field. Students not only learn about the history, process, and theories of the juvenile justice system, but they also gain access to the latest crime measurements and explore important issues such as community-based sanctions, treatment and rehabilitation, gangs, and international youth crime. Emphasizing evidence-based practices, the authors guide readers through the methods and problems of the system and offer realistic insights for students interested in a career in juvenile justice. Real-life examples, excellent pedagogical features, and a complete online ancillary package are provided to help instructors effectively teach the course and help students learn interactively. 

Steven M. Cox earned his B.S. in psychology, M.A. in sociology, and Ph.D. in sociology at the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign. Dr. Cox was a member of the Law Enforcement and Justice Administration faculty at Western Illinois University from 1975 to 2011. For 50 years he served as trainer and consultant to numerous criminal justice agencies in the United States and abroad and worked with several universities in the area of course development. In addition, Dr. Cox has authored and co-authored numerous textbooks and articles. 

Jennifer M. Allen is a professor and former department head of criminal justice at the University of North Georgia. She holds a Master of Science degree in administration and a doctorate in sociology. Prior to entering academia in 2008, she worked with delinquent juveniles and those victimized by abuse and neglect. Dr. Allen has published in the areas of restorative justice, juvenile delinquency and justice, youth programming, corrections, and policing administration and ethics. She teaches courses in juvenile justice, criminology, research methods, administration of criminal justice, family violence, corrections, and introduction to criminal justice at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She is also a coauthor of Juvenile Justice: A Guide to Theory, Policy, and Practice (Sage, 2014, 8th ed.), with Steven Cox, Robert Hanser, and John Conrad.

Robert D. Hanser is the Coordinator of the Department of Criminal Justice and Director of the Institute of Law Enforcement at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Dr. Hanser is a researcher and writer who has written numerous publications related to corrections, correctional treatment, and other specialized areas in the field of criminal justice. He has an extensive background in treatment provision and administration. Dr. Hanser serves as a governor-appointed member of the Louisiana Reentry Advisory Council. The council is charged with developing and implementing effective reentry strategies that improve public safety throughout Louisiana.  He is the Director of Offender Programming for LaSalle Corrections and is responsible for overseeing inmate reception, drug rehabilitation, sex offender treatment, and inmate reentry. He is also the Board President for Freedmen, Inc. a non-profit organization that operates group homes and provides services for ex-offenders who leave prison and rejoin the community. Dr. Hanser is also the Lead Facilitator for the 4th Judicial District’s Batterer Intervention Program (BIP). He is a National Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor in the states of Louisiana and Texas, a Licensed Addiction Counselor, and a Certified Anger Management Therapist.