My personal believe from the African American perspective is that some people may have grown up around a life of crime where parents are gang members or they may think it is cool to be in gangs or being in a gang provides protection. Protection from what? Not exactly sure, but being in a gang gives many a false sense of belonging. Just like African Americans, Latinos are also known for joining gangs. For many, to fit in or be accepted in their “hood” could mean living a life of crime because that is the only way they know to survive.
Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements CJ 387 Juvenile Delinquency D’Meki L. Murry Mississippi Valley State University Mrs. R. Cobbs April 19, 2012 Introduction In today’s society more and more juveniles committing delinquent acts, we have to stop and ask ourselves why this continues to be a problem in our communities. This paper will provide an overview on juvenile delinquency and the role family structure has in this. Juveniles are more likely to become delinquent when there is little or a weak structure being provided by their family. Even thought there are many factors that entail the cause of juvenile delinquency, this paper will focus on three that encompass all the different factors. The main three I will focus on are family functioning, economic status and a two-parent versus a single-parent household.
To be a perfect parent to your kids is have a good back ground. If the kid father/mother is a criminal and/or is at jail, when the kid (kids) goes to school they get bullies saying “Oh that kid`s father/mother is at jail he must be stupid” Basically the kid will have a hard time at school and not having friends. Additionally because the kid had a bad life, he will become like his father/mother. This true because it happens to most kids whose parents have bad reputation. This also works on the kids name when the parents give it to them.
There are so many reasons as to which juveniles can talk themselves into joining gangs. Reasons having to do with family problems or even involvement in the gangs, to friends being there, making money fast and having a sense of “security” when with his or her gang members. One of the main reasons why kids partake in gang activity is because of a neglected feeling from their family. “If young people aren’t getting positive attention from parents, joining a gang certainly provides lots of negative attention. Youth who are angry at a parent may join a gang to shock or be defiant toward the parent”.
The Effect of Race on the Juvenile Justice System I. Introduction Popular studies believe that there is a correlation between juvenile delinquency and children in single-parent homes. It is true especially for adolescent males between 12 and 15 years of age who grow up in homes without fathers. This population is more likely to become juvenile delinquents than males in the same age group that come from two-parent families. It is clear that the child’s mental, physical and psychological needs are not being met in his home environment.
Disorganization, dilapidation, deterioration, and despair are all associated with social isolation and economic stress, which are two main factors of poverty (O’Connor, 2004). Police patrol through run-down, poverty-stricken areas more frequent in large cities. To the kids in these areas, this only backs up the idea that the enemy is society. Another indicator of juvenile crime
Many studies have shown that families that are involved in crime tend to set their children on a law breaking path. (Henslin, 2103, p.158) Some people may not know what the term differential association means, but most are familiar with how it works. For instance parents do not want to live in a bad neighborhood filled with delinquents because if their child is around that influence, they are likely to turn out the same way. In some areas deviation is very woven into the subculture, such as inner cities. If a wrong glance is given to the wrong person, it could cost someone their life.
Environment Environment has had a powerful influence on developing youth, most importantly in areas of lower household income. Being surrounded by gangs, racial discrimination, or lack of education (all components of the environment) has influenced the youth into the choices they have made in life, either making or breaking them. The youth makes choices that make them feel comfortable during the time without analyzing them carefully because of the way they were raised and the environment in which they grew in; for example, “Monster” by Sanyika Shakur is a first-hand account of the experiences of a south central Los Angeles gang member that grew in a troubled environment in where many gangs were located and that led him into the choices
Also there was countless number of bullying reports because of clothing. The students who could not afford nice clothes were usually picked on and taunted. It started to get so out of hand that parents started pulling their kids out of Augusta and transferring them to another school. So to prevent bullying problems and students from wearing irrelevant clothing the school established a new dress code policy where students were required to wear uniforms. This new policy helped reduce the amount of bullying throughout the school and also made the school look more professional.
Daniel kongou April 6, 2012 Juvenile’s justice Juveniles Should Be Treated As Adult Professor RAMSEY Juvenile’s delinquency has become a major problem for law enforcement and for the community. Nowhere seems to be safe nowadays because kids want to act like adult and want to take control in any situation especially when it goes to their benefits. They want to have the power and the respect by becoming gang members. They commit criminal act in the community and are not afraid of the consequences. They do not have or take the time to learn about life and what is good for them.