This is because most teens tend to offend by committing non-violent crimes, only once or a few times, and only during adolescence. It is when adolescents offend repeatedly or violently that their offending is likely to continue beyond adolescence, and become increasingly violent. It is also likely that if this is the case, they began offending, and displaying antisocial behaviour, even before reaching adolescence[4]. Contents [hide] 1 The development of juvenile delinquency 2 Types of juvenile delinquency 2.1 Sex differences 2.2 Racial differences 3 Risk factors 3.1 Individual risk factors 3.2 Family environment and peer influence 4 Crime Theories Applicable to Juvenile Delinquency 4.1 Rational choice 4.2 Social disorganization 4.3 Strain 4.4 Differential association 4.5 Labeling 4.6 Social
From Farringtons study they concluded that the most important risk factors are criminality in the family and poor child-rearing. Suggesting that there is a cause and effect between the upbringing of children and how they will act in their childhood and later on in life. This is shown by the results as there was a positive correlation found between those who had convicted parents and those who were convicted of crime before and after their 21st birthday, whilst those who had parents who were not convicted were far less likely to be involved in crime themselves, many other childhood characteristics were shared between the ‘persisters’. A strength of the upbringing approach to psychology is that it is on the nurture side of the nature vs nurture debate, this is shown through the Farrington study as it found that on their 15th birthday 29% of boys from the disrupted families had committed more crime compared to those boys with intact families. However a weakness of the upbringing approach is that it can be considered a reductionist because it ignores biological causes of crime.
In this article, we shall evaluate the effectiveness of the measures that have been taken to control the children and adolescents who have a high risk of future offending. According to researchers, there has been a lot of arrests of young children and adolescents. Law enforcement in the United States for example arrested 2.4 million children aged 18 years and below. This was a 18% of all arrests made, 33% of all property crimes and 17% of the criminal activities that were committed that year (Snyder, 1999). More significant is that cases of cases of youthful offenders are on the rise on among the young female compared to their male counterparts and this situation is raising an alarm (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 1999).
The youths that are being tried in the adult courts should be offered to better themselves as for they are not fully developed at the ages under eighteen. Punishing a teen by taking away their rights for life is not helping the betterment of society. Another person in prison means more local taxes for another set of clothing, more food, and occasionally, more space to be built. A psychologist could benefit from these children who caused trouble, especially if the trouble was un intentional. Juveniles have greater possibility than adults to make a change in their lives with the right help with counseling and rehabilitation.
Also the fact that teens are so rough towards one another there brains aren’t thinking on what can happen if there physical towards people violently. Adults sometimes complain that were not adults yet, reasons why we can’t drive, buy alcohol, nor vote. In Paul Thompson’s article, “Startling Finds on Teenage Brian” published in The Sacramento Bee stated, “While research on brain-tissues loss can help us to understand teens better, it cannot be used to excuse their violent or homicidal behavior. But it can be used as evidence that teenagers are not yet adults, and the legal system shouldn’t treat them as such”. Jurors should think while there in court that treating teens as adults is something pretty much unfair, because why try teens as adults if there not even close to one.
Juvenile Crime Statistics Juvenile Crime Statistics Identifying an adolescent as a juvenile delinquent refers to him or her being involved in activity considered a violation of any Federal, state, or municipal law. Any persons under 18 who commit an illegal act would be classified as a juvenile offender. Over the past 50 years statistics show that cases involving juvenile offenders have increased. In an attempt to provide a closer look on juvenile delinquency, statistical information has been complied to display the specific areas in which such offenses have either increased or decreased. This paper will focus on the juvenile statistics gathered in 2008; the decrease in arrests, increase in narcotic offenses, simple assaults as well as the implications for juvenile females and minorities will be discussed and examined.
Studies have shown that juveniles are more acceptable to committing crimes in groups than by themselves. Therefore they are more likely to get arrested when in large groups then adults are to getting arrested. This was during a period when narcotics came into the mix. More and more juveniles were experimenting with drugs and alcohol and usually would end up getting into some sort of trouble. Four of every five children and teen arrested in state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes, test positive for drugs, are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense, admit having substance abuse and addiction problems, or share some combination of these characteristics.
In 2001, U.S. law enforcement agencies made an estimated 2.3 million arrests of persons under the age of 18 (Snyder, 2003). In spite of the eruption in violence involving juveniles in schools throughout the U.S., juvenile crime has decreased. This paper shall address the overall decrease in juvenile crime, the increase in drug offenses and simple assaults and the implications for juvenile females and minorities. In addition, assess the tracking of juvenile arrests as a method of measuring the amount of and trends in juvenile justice. Decrease in Juvenile Crime In 2001, according to the FBI, juveniles accounted for 17% of all arrests and 15% of all violent crime arrests (Snyder, 2003).
The facts clearly indicate that juveniles are incapable of holding their own in a counsel defense due to their lack of knowledge on how to navigate the judicial process. It cannot be denied that the developmental, social, and historical circumstances of adolescents show that their capabilities to work with their defense counsel and comprehend long-term consequences are limited. In addition, those who are incarcerated in adult prison facilities reenter society with more criminal-like features than before they were imprisoned and are more likely to be rearrested for yet another felony mainly because they were not offered rehabilitation during their crucial developmental adolescent years. Juvenile justice should be focused on rehabilitation and reform of character rather than condemning those who are convicted to a life of
May 1995). Another cause of criminal behavior in juveniles is substance abuse. “Four of every five children and teen arrestees in state juvenile justice systems are under the influence of alcohol or drugs while committing their crimes, test positive for drugs, are arrested for committing an alcohol or drug offense, admit having substance abuse and addiction problems, or share some combination of these characteristics, according to a new report released by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University” (CASA). Substance abuse has a huge effect, using of alcohol and drugs lowers a person’s