It is estimated that the percentage for violent crime arrests currently stands at about 17 % (Barker 1). As stated, juvenile delinquency has serious effects on a number of societal groups. Juvenile delinquency, also known as "juvenile offending", is the act of participating in unlawful behavior as a minor or individual younger than the statutory age of majority. It is common to hear of schoolchildren being used by gangs to market drugs, and carry assault weapons. The fact that there are relatively several studies indicating the causes of Juvenile delinquency. Given the effects that delinquency has in the society, it is vital to understand the causes of delinquency. Juvenile delinquency is caused by a number of factors that include peer influence, influence by the family of the juvenile, race, and other related factors like low self-esteem and trauma. Juvenile delinquency is defined as an individual under the age of 18 who fails to abide by the laws. Children under the age of 18 are susceptible to influences, positive and negative, from peers, adults and educational instructors. The statistics outlined above show the seriousness of the issue of delinquency in the United States. Juvenile crime rate has tremendously increased. A substantial percentage of arrests made each day in the U.S. comprises of people below the age of 18. Juvenile delinquency is an issue of great concern in law enforcement, and correctional circles. Teachers and parents are not on the same page when it comes to teaching students about responsibility, which leads to the rise of juvenile delinquency. Juvenile delinquency affects male and female youths, although the majority of offenders are young men. Risk Factors for Delinquency: An Overview by Michael Shader1 The juvenile justice field has spent much time and energy attempting to understand the causes of delinquency. In other words when a juvenile’s actions prove to be dangerous towards the society and for him, he … Barker, Leslie. Families are required to attend counseling sessions as a group. There are a variety of reasons related to schooling that can lead a minor … Family has both biological and psychological effects in this problem. School is not only a place to learn and grow; it is also a structured routine that provides children with a goal to accomplish each day. The family has to meet the needs of the juvenile in trouble, and raise lawyer’s fees. 2010. This, therefore, calls for a nuanced approach in the issue of juvenile delinquency. This will target the delinquents in minority groups. The two can originate from sources outside the family. The number of juveniles engaging in delinquent behavior in various states is dependent on racial disparities. It will help reduce the number of juveniles in these minority groups who commit offenses because they will not commit racism-inspired crimes. READ ALSO: Problems of orphanage homes in Nigeria We cannot talk about mental health and not mention physical health. These are divided into the following kinds. “Juveniles accounted for 16% of all violent crimes arrests and 32% of all property crime arrests in 1999. Essay on the Causes of Juvenile Delinquency – There is no single cause or simple explanation for the development of delinquent behaviour. Children who are abused or exposed to family violence are likely to be delinquents. Related Articles: What is Juvenile Delinquency? It is on this thin line that the causes and the impact of delinquency come into the picture. In response to acts of violence, most youths are incarcerated for a period of time, and may then perform community service or other positive acts to benefit others. It therefore affects the society negatively by affecting the community, families, individuals etc. Leading Contributing Factors To Juvenile Delinquency Poor School Attendance. Despite the fact that most people attach no harm to these activities, research has proven that the more time peers spend time watching television, the more likely they are to engage in delinquent behaviors (Mandel 1). The classical theorists of criminology hold the view that juveniles are rational people having free will (the ability to make rational choices). Their number is almost twice the number of Hispanics held in residential custody, and it is five times the number of white juveniles held in residential custody in the United States (“Juvenile Justice” 1). In response to negative influences, such as domestic violence at home and pressure from gangs, youths may resort to committing crimes. If benefits exceed costs, they commit a crime and vice versa. These interventions can be implemented in the family, at school, or even in correctional facilities. Studentpulse.com. Some of the reasons that are most common for a minor to turn to juvenile delinquency include: School Problems . Some studies have linked genes to delinquency, arguing that children who are raised by criminals and drug addicts are likely to become delinquent. It is critical to understand the extent of growth of juvenile offending. NOAA Hurricane Forecast Maps Are Often Misinterpreted — Here's How to Read Them. Children who are raised in this kind of a family may have issues that they want to address, but they may lack audience. Another way of reducing the number of delinquency cases is by reducing the rates at which juvenile delinquents recidivate. Some of the topics are specific to one of the projects; other topics are investigated with data from two or all three projects. In many developed countries, mental illnesses are the leading cause of juvenile delinquency. Psychological causes, 3. School problem is one of the causes of juvenile delinquency. Youth belonging from poor economical status easily get involved in … The main reason why race is a determinant factor for delinquency is that minority groups are not accorded the same treatment as other races. Juvenile Justice. Also there have been other Trait Theories discovered to represent grounds for Juvenile Delinquency. It is thus vital that these interventions are taken seriously, in order to reduce the number of delinquents in the society. Race is a significant factor in predicting delinquent behavior. DATA ON the frequency of juvenile delinquency are necessarily inaccurate. Have “Three-Strikes” Laws been Effective and Should they be Continued. Despite the efforts taken in a bid to reduce the number of delinquents and recidivists, the U.S. continues to record high numbers of juvenile offenders in juvenile correctional facilities. There are various theories of juvenile delinquency and various researchers have reported different reasons of delinquency. Once the trend of delinquency is set in a certain race, the peer influence then fuels recidivism and fresh offense. These causes may be within an individual's social circumstances (for instance, a child who grows up with parents who smoke pot may be far more likely to view illegal drugs as a viable choice), or could be related to overarching social policies. Examples of these behaviors include drinking and smoking. The two cannot be separated since one of the reasons for crime and its continuance into adult life is the ineffective control and treatment of juveniles. This situation may need review. In the United States, more than 1.7 million juvenile delinquency cases were disposed in the year 1997. Social Factors Favoring Juvenile Delinquency: 1. This will in turn reduce the number of delinquency victims, the number of affected families, and the amount of resources that the government will spend on law enforcement and correctional services. It will also help in identifying delinquent children so that they can be counseled, or even sent for correctional services. Research has shown that children who are raised by single parents or divorcees tend to be more delinquent than their counterparts who are raised in traditional families are (Mandel 1). In the following pages, the authors summarize just a few of these many inves-tigations. As one of the most common juvenile delinquency causes, living in poverty often exacerbates other factors involved in juvenile delinquency, increasing an individual teen’s likelihood of offending. Causes of Juvenile Delinquency: Classical Approach. This will therefore lead to a better society. Educational causes, 5- Political causes. It is even suspected that family influence contributes to delinquent behavior more than peer pressure. The U.S. Supreme Court: Who Are the Nine Justices on the Bench Today? Pbs.org. To maximize the cost-effective benefits in fighting crime, policies need to take a proactive, multifaceted approach starting as early as the prenatal stage, with three concerns in mind – improving physical health of mother and child, improving family environment/parenting skills, and improving pre-school education. Causes of Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile delinquency can be defined as the involvement in illegal actions by persons under the age of 18 years. Economic causes, 4. Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Against such factors as violence, psychological issues, “street life,” etc that push a minor to commit a crime, there needs to be an opportunity for the minor to see the right path.International experience divides the crime prevention level into three levels: Juvenile delinquency has increased thirty-three percent over the last decade (Loeber, Farrington, & Petechuk, 2003) Human beings are unique and multifaceted creatures. Forcible rape constituted 6,500, while aggravated assault cases totaled 67,900. Public schools have the backing of the government. It is also critical to come up with solutions and prevention strategies for delinquency. The effects of delinquency are far-reaching and they therefore, affect the community, victims of the delinquent, the society as a whole, and even the delinquents themselves. Another risk is a family in which there are no effective communication channels. By Mallika Mohta. Patterns of Delinquency The Causes … Poor school attendance is one of the top factors contributing to delinquency. Most of these crimes make the juvenile to lose his/her freedom because he/she may be placed on probation, or even incarcerated. Kids that look different from other children or those that have visible physical impairments oftentimes suffer from bullying. Juvenile delinquency affects male and female youths, although the majority of offenders are young men. In fact, the Kansas and Vermont states in the U.S. have statutory provisions that allow the trial of juveniles as young as 10 years of age in adult courts. “The Effects of Juvenile Delinquency”. Two thousand of the aforementioned cases were criminal homicide. It is important to note, at this point, that one can effortlessly appear non-delinquent after a correctional program, while deep inside him/her the delinquent characteristics are intact. There is a very thin line of difference between deviance and delinquency. The preventative measures should be holistic in the sense that they should include all the people in the lives of the juveniles. Concepts of Law Enforcement: Pursuing Criminal Justice, Crime Prevention Programs and Criminal Rehabilitation, The Solution to Juvenile Delinquency is Simple, The Endangered Species Act: to Strengthen or Not to Strengthen, Bullying and Sexual Harassment at Work Place, Law Enforcement Cameras are an Invasion of Privacy. There has been heated debates world over among criminologists, psychologists, and sociologists concerning the possible causes of delinquency in juveniles. In school, teachers should keep a close eye on pupils to ensure that they know their activities. Social structure theorists believe that the cause of juvenile (and other) crime is not within the person themselves but is due to external factors. Mandel, Sharon. On the other hand, juveniles can engage in activities that do not have concrete objectives and commitments. This is normally costly and disruptive (Barker 1). Given the widespread family, societal, community, and individual costs that come with high rates of juvenile delinquency, one cannot help to wonder what the government is doing about it. Each of the patterns has its own social context, the causes that are alleged to bring it about, and the forms of prevention or treatment most often suggested as appropriate for the pattern in question. Rose, Nancy. This policy brief is intended to reach the decision makers in the United States Department of Justice. Physical causes, 2. This will also have an effect on the academic welfare of the juvenile because he or she will miss academic activities that will take place during the probation or incarceration. This paper will explore other various factors that lead to juvenile delinquency, and propose solutions to this problem. Researchers have found that in the kindergarten years, early disruptive behaviors such as severe hostility and repeated rule violation have been associated with later criminal actions (Nakaya, 2005). Juvenile delinquency is a big problem that not only affects the victims of the delinquents, but it also affects the juvenile delinquents themselves, their family, and even the society as a whole. Family is the basic socialization agency for the children. Statistics released by bureaus in various states indicate that the rate of juvenile offense is increasing. 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