THE CENTURY OF THE CHILD

Abstract

Law practitioners are consummate labellers. But when labels are applied to intransigent social problems such as crime, the process often proves to be inadequate. The labelling process has recently been applied to the legal treatment of problems relating to children. Studies on institutions for children have ranged from those which demand a return to a system similar to adult penology, to ones which would separate child problems from the direct influence of legal institutions. The focus on legal-administrative problems of which the juvenile court is the centrepiece has been a mistake. Graham Parker concludes that the juvenile court should avoid any stance which makes its proceedings appear like adult court. The solution of child problems is a community affair in which the entire family must be involved.