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In today’s society, a troubled teenager or mischievous adolescent is labeled a

juvenile delinquent. Yet the current definition of a juvenile is based solely upon, most of

the times, on stereotypes. A delinquent may be a troublesome teenager with complicated

problems at home, school, or with friends. He may have extreme physical and/or

emotional needs, or he may just be a child who committed a simple mistake. “Was he

unlucky to get caught doing something foolish? Did he run away from home because of

family troubles or to demonstrate independence? What kind of help does he need and

exactly how much?” (Erickson 126-127). At this point, a probation officer helps in

making decisions that have an important and beneficial impact on the lives of those

called “delinquents” (Erickson 7). Probation can be defined in two different ways: as an

organization or a process. As an organization, probation is “a service agency designed to

assist the court and execute certain services in the administration of criminal justice.” As

a process, probation is “an investigation for the court and the supervision of persons in

the community” (Carter and Wilkins 77). Considering the diverse definitions on the

subject of probation, the myths and truths about the juvenile justice system can also be

found.

Although juvenile crime is a serious national problem, Marcia Satterthwaite, a

social worker, criticizes the effectiveness of the legal system as a whole. She claims that

the system has been losing its confidentiality between the officer and the client, that it

does not discourage crime effectively, that punishment should be more stringent, and that

there is a “lack of focus” on the need to protect...