Causes of Criminal Behavior

2557 Words11 Pages
“Last year, 15,890 Americans became victims of violent crime each day” (Brinkerhoff). Property crimes are the most committed crimes in the U.S. (Crime). I am shocked how many crimes are committed daily in the U.S. What causes people to commit criminal behavior? Are they born to be aggressive? Are criminals made from their environment? Are they made from the combination of both nature and nurture? Do their peers influence them? “Research indicates that genetics is responsible for about fifty percent of criminal behavior and that environment accounts for the rest” (Beller). The causes of criminal behavior in juveniles are failure in school, substance abuse, gang membership and gun possession, their environment, and family problems. Failure in school is one of the factors that relate to crimes committed at a young age. Failing school causes one to drop out, and this reduces the risk that one will commit a crime, because they lack the social skills learned in school, such as working with teachers and classmates, learning to turn things in on time and being able to follow instructions, and poor performance can lead to a low self-esteem. This causes them to join a gang to regain their self-esteem and to regain a sense of belonging (Web. 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
Open Document