1 | Page
JUVENILE JUSTICE ALL
FLASHCARDS COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS & COMPLETE
RATIONALES 2026
**1. What was the first juvenile court established in the United
States?**
A) New York Juvenile Court, 1899
B) Cook County Juvenile Court, Illinois, 1899
C) Boston Juvenile Court, 1900
D) Philadelphia Juvenile Court, 1898
**B - correct-answer -** The first juvenile court in the United
States was established in Cook County, Illinois, in 1899. Option
A is incorrect because New York did not establish the first
juvenile court. Option C is incorrect because Boston followed
later. Option D is incorrect because Philadelphia was not the
first.
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---
**2. What was the primary philosophy behind the creation of the
juvenile court?**
A) Punishment and retribution
B) Parens patriae and rehabilitation
C) Deterrence and incapacitation
D) Restorative justice
**B - correct-answer -** The juvenile court was founded on the
philosophy of parens patriae (the state as parent) and
rehabilitation rather than punishment. Option A is incorrect
because punishment was not the primary philosophy. Option C
is incorrect because deterrence and incapacitation are adult
correctional philosophies. Option D is incorrect because
restorative justice emerged later.
---
**3. What does the term "parens patriae" mean?**
A) Parent of the people
B) Father of the country
C) Parent of the fatherland
D) Parent of the child
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**A - correct-answer -** Parens patriae is a Latin term meaning
"parent of the people" or "parent of the country," which gives
the state the authority to act as guardian for those who cannot
care for themselves, including juveniles. Options B, C, and D
are incorrect translations.
---
**4. What was the House of Refuge?**
A) A community-based program for juveniles
B) The first institution designed to house and reform wayward
youth, established in New York in 1825
C) A foster care system
D) A school for juvenile offenders
**B - correct-answer -** The House of Refuge, established in
New York in 1825, was the first institution designed to house
and reform wayward youth. Option A is incorrect because it was
an institution, not a community program. Option C is incorrect
because it was not a foster care system. Option D is incorrect
because it was a reformatory, not a school.
---
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**5. What was the Child Savers Movement?**
A) A movement to protect children from abuse
B) A social reform movement in the late 19th century that
advocated for separate courts and institutions for juveniles
C) A movement to increase juvenile incarceration
D) A movement to try juveniles as adults
**B - correct-answer -** The Child Savers Movement was a
social reform movement in the late 19th century that advocated
for separate courts and institutions for juveniles, focusing on
rehabilitation rather than punishment. Option A is partially
correct but incomplete. Option C is incorrect because the
movement opposed harsh treatment. Option D is incorrect
because the movement opposed trying juveniles as adults.
---
**6. Which case established that juveniles have the right to due
process?**
A) In re Gault (1967)
B) Kent v. United States (1966)
C) In re Winship (1970)
D) McKeiver v. Pennsylvania (1971)
JUVENILE JUSTICE ALL
FLASHCARDS COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS & COMPLETE
RATIONALES 2026
**1. What was the first juvenile court established in the United
States?**
A) New York Juvenile Court, 1899
B) Cook County Juvenile Court, Illinois, 1899
C) Boston Juvenile Court, 1900
D) Philadelphia Juvenile Court, 1898
**B - correct-answer -** The first juvenile court in the United
States was established in Cook County, Illinois, in 1899. Option
A is incorrect because New York did not establish the first
juvenile court. Option C is incorrect because Boston followed
later. Option D is incorrect because Philadelphia was not the
first.
,2 | Page
---
**2. What was the primary philosophy behind the creation of the
juvenile court?**
A) Punishment and retribution
B) Parens patriae and rehabilitation
C) Deterrence and incapacitation
D) Restorative justice
**B - correct-answer -** The juvenile court was founded on the
philosophy of parens patriae (the state as parent) and
rehabilitation rather than punishment. Option A is incorrect
because punishment was not the primary philosophy. Option C
is incorrect because deterrence and incapacitation are adult
correctional philosophies. Option D is incorrect because
restorative justice emerged later.
---
**3. What does the term "parens patriae" mean?**
A) Parent of the people
B) Father of the country
C) Parent of the fatherland
D) Parent of the child
,3 | Page
**A - correct-answer -** Parens patriae is a Latin term meaning
"parent of the people" or "parent of the country," which gives
the state the authority to act as guardian for those who cannot
care for themselves, including juveniles. Options B, C, and D
are incorrect translations.
---
**4. What was the House of Refuge?**
A) A community-based program for juveniles
B) The first institution designed to house and reform wayward
youth, established in New York in 1825
C) A foster care system
D) A school for juvenile offenders
**B - correct-answer -** The House of Refuge, established in
New York in 1825, was the first institution designed to house
and reform wayward youth. Option A is incorrect because it was
an institution, not a community program. Option C is incorrect
because it was not a foster care system. Option D is incorrect
because it was a reformatory, not a school.
---
, 4 | Page
**5. What was the Child Savers Movement?**
A) A movement to protect children from abuse
B) A social reform movement in the late 19th century that
advocated for separate courts and institutions for juveniles
C) A movement to increase juvenile incarceration
D) A movement to try juveniles as adults
**B - correct-answer -** The Child Savers Movement was a
social reform movement in the late 19th century that advocated
for separate courts and institutions for juveniles, focusing on
rehabilitation rather than punishment. Option A is partially
correct but incomplete. Option C is incorrect because the
movement opposed harsh treatment. Option D is incorrect
because the movement opposed trying juveniles as adults.
---
**6. Which case established that juveniles have the right to due
process?**
A) In re Gault (1967)
B) Kent v. United States (1966)
C) In re Winship (1970)
D) McKeiver v. Pennsylvania (1971)
