Juvenile Delinquency Issues in the Us

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------------------------------------------------- Top of Form search Bottom of Form Christina Campbell Project DC- Student Portfolio Research Proposal and Lit Review I. The Problem and Setting The Statement of the Problem and Subproblem Juvenile delinquency is a persistent and pervasive social problem in America. Juvenile crime represents over 40% of the total arrests for major crimes, including murder, rape, and burglary (Hawkins and Weis 1985). The increasing rate of juvenile incarceration mirrors that of adult incarceration. This disadvantaged population, which has been largely ignored by both the written law and society, creates great social and economic costs for the United States. Juvenile delinquency and crime needs to be addressed and funds need to be allocated to research in order to control the increased rates of juvenile crime and, in addition, provide more programs for rehabilitation to this delinquent youth population. The District of Columbia has the highest rates of juvenile delinquency in the country and, not surprisingly, there are far more crimes committed in minority and low-income neighborhoods than in the wealthy ones. That said, much of the district consists of largely urban and disadvantaged areas. With high rates of unemployment and poverty, and without family and neighborhood support, many juveniles turn to crime as a way of sustaining their lifestyles or surviving in an otherwise dangerous neighborhood. Prison time provides street credibility instead of alienation from society. The juvenile justice system in the District of Columbia has followed the national trends — representing a transition from a rehabilitative focus, established by the creation of a separate juvenile legal system, to a more punitive focus, marked by stricter laws and harsher punishments. Recently, this has shifted back to a rehabilitative stance
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