States of Delinquency: Race and Science in the Making of California's Juvenile Justice System: 35 (American Crossroads) - Tapa dura

"[States of Delinquency] is a tour de force of historical research... A valuable resource for the student and the citizen." Criminal Law & Crim Justice Bks / Criminal Justice Abstracts "Recommended." Choice "Indispensable reading... An excellent piece of research that shows how the state can sometimes work in ways that are harmful to childrens' welfare." -- Sarah M. Nadolny Journal of Youth Adolescence "Masterful examination ... A major contribution to carceral and reform histories." -- Robert T. Chase The Journal of American History

This unique analysis of the rise of the juvenile justice system from the nineteenth to twentieth centuries uses one of the harshest states - California - as a case study for examining racism in the treatment of incarcerated young people of color. Using rich new untapped archives, "States of Delinquency" is the first book to explore the experiences of young Mexican Americans, African Americans, and ethnic Euro-Americans in California correctional facilities including Whittier State School for Boys and the Preston School of Industry. Miroslava Chavez-Garcia examines the ideologies and practices used by state institutions as they began to replace families and communities in punishing youth, and explores the application of science and pseudo-scientific research in the disproportionate classification of youths of color as degenerate. She also shows how these boys and girls, and their families, resisted increasingly harsh treatment and various kinds of abuse, including sterilization.