white
Figures 1 to to3 3 provide an assessment of our expectation that men’s contact with the criminal justice system and their own family formation trajectories will differ by maternal union history and race. Figures 1 and and2 2 summarize the incidence of arrest and incarceration at each age by race and by two categories of maternal union status history: having experienced no changes or having experienced three or more changes. At each age, white young adult men who experienced three or more changes in maternal union status were arrested or incarcerated more often compared to same-race peers who experienced no changes in maternal union status. No such disparity appears for black men. Figure 3 describes the proportion of men who were married at each age for the same groups. Marriage rates are low among all men until about age 23. At age 24, those who experienced no maternal union status change pull away from those who experienced 3 changes or more among white men. Among black men, marriage rates remain low, but those who experienced frequent maternal union status change are somewhat more likely to be married compared to their peers who experienced no union status change.
Incidence of arrest at each age by race and maternal union status history
Incidence of incarceration at each age by race and maternal union status history
Proportion of men who were married at each age by race and maternal union status history
Table 2 presents results from multivariate models predicting arrest and incarceration. For each outcome, the baseline model includes indicators of maternal union status change, race, the interaction of race and maternal union status change, and control variables. The full model adds lagged measures of the young adult’s marital status, cohabitation status, and parenthood status at each age. Table 3 reports estimated probabilities from each model, varying exposure to maternal union status change and race and holding all other variables constant at their means.
Coefficients and robust standard errors from logistic regression models estimating log-odds of arrest and jail, non-Hispanic white and black men age 18–28, 2005–2015. PSID Transition to Adulthood Supplement.
Arrest | Jail | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
B | SE | B | SE | B | SE | B | SE | |
1 change | 0.230 | 0.318 | 0.380 | 0.320 | 0.205 | 0.529 | 0.490 | 0.534 |
2 changes | 0.240 | 0.318 | 0.336 | 0.343 | 0.038 | 0.566 | 0.470 | 0.589 |
3+ changes | 0.815 | 0.262 | 0.858 | 0.290 | 0.863 | 0.519 | 1.041 | 0.550 |
Non-Hispanic black (vs. NH white) | 0.500 | 0.261 | 0.548 | 0.287 | 0.423 | 0.490 | 0.579 | 0.526 |
Age at year | 0.007 | 0.021 | 0.010 | 0.029 | 0.025 | 0.037 | −0.018 | 0.050 |
1 change black | −0.102 | 0.378 | −0.318 | 0.391 | −0.184 | 0.665 | −0.578 | 0.684 |
2 changes black | −0.172 | 0.348 | −0.316 | 0.367 | 0.177 | 0.621 | −0.312 | 0.642 |
3 changes black | −0.891 | 0.286 | −0.902 | 0.311 | −0.857 | 0.572 | −1 .087 | 0.596 |
Family income-to-needs in 1997 | −0.122 | 0.037 | −0.090 | 0.040 | −0.210 | 0.079 | −0.172 | 0.088 |
Mother’s age at birth | 0.009 | 0.012 | 0.016 | 0.013 | 0.008 | 0.023 | 0.001 | 0.023 |
Never married | 0.180 | 0.147 | 0.174 | 0.152 | 0.193 | 0.258 | 0.198 | 0.269 |
Widowed/divorced/separated | 0.238 | 0.243 | 0.080 | 0.257 | 0.179 | 0.422 | 0.189 | 0.398 |
Unknown | −0.259 | 0.536 | −0.217 | 0.455 | −0.376 | 1.092 | −0.259 | 0.949 |
Unpartnered | −0.048 | 0.165 | 0.013 | 0.178 | 0.039 | 0.304 | −0.107 | 0.336 |
Partnered with other | −0.286 | 0.201 | −0.210 | 0.212 | −0.101 | 0.353 | −0.407 | 0.362 |
Either parent ever arrested/charged | −0.004 | 0.173 | 0.055 | 0.180 | −0.010 | 0.326 | 0.041 | 0.313 |
Externalizing behavior (0–17, CDS-I or II) | −0.008 | 0.013 | −0.011 | 0.014 | 0.002 | 0.024 | −0.013 | 0.026 |
Risk-taking in early adulthood ((0–2) | 0.521 | 0.099 | 0.436 | 0.107 | 0.585 | 0.177 | 0.579 | 0.180 |
SEO sample (vs. SRC) | 0.068 | 0.196 | 0.024 | 0.209 | −0.082 | 0.314 | −0.189 | 0.328 |
Observed to age 16/17 | 0.157 | 0.292 | −0.043 | 0.334 | 0.126 | 0.608 | −0.105 | 0.606 |
Married in year | −2.235 | 1.025 | −0.464 | 0.758 | ||||
Cohabiting in year | 0.187 | 0.275 | −0.497 | 0.614 | ||||
Had first child by year | 0.504 | 0.136 | 0.789 | 0.230 | ||||
Intercept | −3.526 | 0.677 | −3.762 | 0.849 | −4.878 | 1.162 | −3.647 | 1.411 |
Number of records | 6768 | 6754 | ||||||
Wald chi−2 | 91.720 | 100.900 | 59.91 | 81.210 | ||||
psuedo log-likelihood | −1435.920 | −1175.880 | −598.890 | −505.090 |
Estimated probability of arrest or jail by maternal union status history and race, baseline and full models
Arrest | Jail | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Baseline | Full | Baseline | Full | |
Non-Hispanic white, no change | 0.038 | 0.035 | 0.011 | 0.010 |
Non-Hispanic black, no change | 0.061 | 0.059 | 0.017 | 0.018 |
Non-Hispanic white, 1 change | 0.047 | 0.050 | 0.014 | 0.016 |
Non-Hispanic black, 1 change | 0.069 | 0.062 | 0.018 | 0.017 |
Non-Hispanic white, 2 changes | 0.048 | 0.048 | 0.012 | 0.016 |
Non-Hispanic black, 2 changes | 0.065 | 0.060 | 0.021 | 0.021 |
Non-Hispanic white, 3 changes | 0.082 | 0.078 | 0.027 | 0.028 |
Non-Hispanic black, 3 changes | 0.057 | 0.056 | 0.017 | 0.017 |
Baseline models indicate that white young adults who experienced three or more maternal union status changes are significantly more likely to be arrested (p<.01) and marginally more likely to be incarcerated (p<.10) in a given year compared to white peers who experienced no maternal union status change net of covariates. Interaction terms indicate that while black men have an elevated likelihood of being arrested or incarcerated compared to white men overall, the probability of these events for black men is unrelated to their history of maternal union status change. This pattern of findings is consistent with prior research on the association of family structure instability with white youths’ behavioral trajectories and with research suggesting that this association is largely absent for black youth.
The full models describe the association between frequent maternal union status change and each outcome when a young adult’s own family formation events are taken into account. The main effect of frequent family change in childhood remains strongly significantly associated with the log-odds of arrest and marginally associated with the log-odds of incarceration. The interaction term associated with frequent maternal union status change for black young adults is marginally significant. Having been married in the prior year is associated with lower log-odds of arrest, while having a child is associated with higher log-odds of both arrest and incarceration. Living in a cohabiting union in the prior year is not significantly associated with either outcome.
Tables 3 and and4 4 provide two practical interpretations of the regression results summarized in Table 2 . Table 3 presents estimated probabilities of arrest and jail for white and black young adults at each level of maternal union status change in childhood. White young adults who experienced no maternal union status change had predicted probabilities of arrest and jail in each year of .038 and .011 respectively in the baseline model. These probabilities were reduced trivially in the full model. The probability of arrest increased by about one-third for white youth who experienced one or two maternal union status changes compared to none in both the baseline and full models, but for those who experienced 3 or more changes, the probabilities of arrest (.082) and jail (.027) were more than twice as high in the baseline model, suggesting that the association of family change with criminal offending is better characterized by a threshold model than by a linear model. The probability of arrest for this group was reduced to .078 in the full model, but the probability of jail was not significantly affected. Black young adults had higher predicted rates of arrest and jail compared to whites except among white young adults who experienced three changes or more in maternal union status. Overall, changes in maternal union status did not substantially alter the predicted probabilities of arrest and incarceration for black men.
KHB decomposition of total effects of 3+ maternal union status changes for white young adult men into indirect and direct effects as mediated by family formation behavior in early adulthood
Marriage | Cohabitation | Birth | |
---|---|---|---|
Baseline | 0.884 | 0.777 | 0.788 |
Full | 0.779 | 0.779 | 0.779 |
Difference | 0.104 | −0.002 | 0.009 |
Percent change | −12 % | 0% | −1 % |
Baseline | 0.675 | 0.613 | 0.621 |
Full | 0.604 | 0.604 | 0.604 |
Difference | 0.070 | 0.008 | 0.017 |
Percent change | −10 % | −1 % | −3 % |
Table 4 provides a decomposition of the total effect of three or more changes in maternal union status on the likelihood of arrest or jail for white youth into an indirect effect, or the portion that is attributable to mediators, and a direct effect, or the portion that remains unexplained by mediation. The underlying regression models are weighted but not clustered on the unique identifier as are the models summarized in Table 2 . We assess the mediating effect of the lagged indicators for young adults’ marital, cohabiting, and parent status in separate decomposition models that control for the other family formation events and all covariates included in the full model. Men who were married in the preceding year were less likely to be arrested or in jail in a given year compared to men who were not married, and this association significantly mediated the association between frequent maternal union status change and each outcome. Relating this to our conceptual model, white men who experienced three or more changes in maternal union status were less likely to marry in early adulthood, and this disparity compared to other men partially explains their higher probability of arrest and time in jail. Cohabitation status and parenthood did not mediate the association between maternal union status change and either outcome.
Nearly one in five contemporary young adults experiences three or more changes in maternal union status in the course of childhood. A substantial literature has documented that exposure to frequent union instability is associated with increased behavior problems and delinquency across the course of childhood and adolescence, but to date, little research has investigated whether this association extends to criminal offending in early adulthood. On the one hand, this relationship may not persist: most young offenders stop engaging in delinquent and criminal behavior when they enter adulthood, so any association between family structure and behavior in childhood may not be consequential for behavior in adulthood. Alternatively, family instability may be associated with persistent offending through a number of potential pathways, including through selection mechanisms, such that parents who are likely to have criminally offended themselves are more likely both to experience union instability and to raise children who become criminal offenders; through a process of cumulative disadvantage by which the experience of each additional change in family structure compounds children’s risk of delinquent or criminal behavior over the life course; or through a more indirect process whereby children who experience frequent family change are less likely to enter stable unions themselves and thus remain more likely to criminally offend compared to peers who enter early marriage.
Our analysis considered these competing alternatives to explain patterns of contact with the criminal justice system for contemporary white and black young adult men who experienced varying levels of maternal union status instability in childhood. We found that for white men, but not for black men, the experience of three or more changes in maternal union status is positively associated with the likelihood of arrest and incarceration through age 26. The probability of arrest in a given year was .082 and the probability of incarceration was .027 for this group in the baseline model, more than double that for young white men who experienced no family structure change. This relationship holds net of parents’ own criminal offending history and indicators of early child behavior problems, suggesting that the association is not attributable to selection mechanisms or to problem behavior established early in life. White men’s lower odds of marriage explain about 12 percent of the association, indicating that some portion of the relationship is indirect and attributable to men’s generally more precarious transitions to adulthood when they experience frequent family structure change. Yet much of the direct association remains after taking these mechanisms into account.
To some extent, the relatively small attenuating effect of marriage on exposure to maternal union instability is to be expected. Disparities in marriage probabilities between those who experienced no family change themselves and those who experienced three or more changes did not begin to emerge until men were in their mid-20s, so would not explain differences in contact with the criminal justice system at earlier ages. But even the relatively modest influence of marriage is striking. We note that while prior work has argued that marriage has a causal role in desistance from crime, we cannot entirely eliminate self-selection into marriage as a competing explanation. For the birth cohort considered, observed marriages occurred relatively early: during the period of observation (2005–15), men’s median age at first marriage increased from 27 to 29 years (U.S. Census Bureau 2017), and prior work has demonstrated that family instability in childhood is associated with lower rates of marriage in early adulthood overall ( Fomby and Bosick 2013 ). Thus, the group of young men who experienced frequent maternal union status change and who subsequently married at a relatively young age may be self-selected either on traits that also make them less likely to engage in criminal behavior or more likely to be responsive to marriage as a social control mechanism compared to their peers.
Notably, other family formation events including cohabitation and the birth of a first child did not diminish the likelihood of arrest or incarceration. In fact, the birth of a first child positively predicted both arrest and incarceration. We do not interpret this as a causal relationship; rather, we expect that early fatherhood, and what is most often nonmarital fatherhood in this population, is indicative of prior disadvantage or diminished educational and employment opportunities in early adulthood that may in turn contribute to more frequent offending. Accounting for current employment did not weaken the association between having a child and the outcome variables, but we will investigate other factors such as educational attainment and current school enrollment and nonresidence with children that may refine or explain this relationship.
The majority (58%) of PSID respondents experienced stable family arrangements from birth through adolescence. Those who experienced highly unstable arrangements characterized by three or more changes in maternal union status were more likely to be black. Most black children experienced at least one family structure change, with a third (31%) experiencing three or more.
Prior literature suggests these unstable family backgrounds would have negative implications for adolescent risk behavior and transition-to-adulthood experiences (e.g. Fomby and Bosick 2013 ). The findings presented in this article suggest that these unstable family contexts shape criminal outcomes even in adulthood. Our findings predict that whites who experience a single change in maternal union status during childhood are significantly more likely to be arrested in adulthood. Those who experience high levels of family instability (three or more transitions) are not only more likely to be arrested, but are also significantly more likely to experience incarceration in adulthood. These findings point to a need for criminologists to move beyond the classic, yet static focus on “broken homes” toward measures of family instability, which more accurately capture the dynamic nature of modern family contexts.
Despite black children’s disproportionate exposure to family structure transitions, these changes are not significantly related to their interactions with the criminal justice system in adulthood. Black men who grow up in unstable families are not more likely to experience arrest or incarceration than black men from stable family structures. This is not to suggest family instability does not impact blacks in the long term. Like white men, their experiences with family structure appear to shape their own family formation during their transitions to adulthood. Those who experience a single family structure transition, or two family structure changes are significantly less likely to marry or cohabitate, respectively, than those from stable family structures. Further, the greater number of family structure transitions they experienced in childhood, the more likely it is that they will become fathers in early adulthood.
Consistent with the life course criminology literature, marriage during the transition to adulthood surfaces as particularly consequential for adult criminal outcomes. Indeed, our findings suggest marriage attenuates the relationship between early family structure instability and adulthood arrest and incarceration. Put differently, men who marry are less likely be arrested or incarcerated in adulthood, but selection into marriage is not random. Childhood experiences with family instability, among other factors, shape those experiences. Thus we observe an accumulation of disadvantage wherein children from unstable family contexts are more likely to become involved with the criminal justice, and less likely to experience life events like marriage that might otherwise curtail that involvement.
This analysis contributes to research in life course criminology by drawing upon long-running, multigenerational data that includes prospective information on mothers’ and children’s experience. However, the study does have some limitations. First, we cannot infer a causal relationship between either exposure to maternal union status change or one’s own family formation behavior and subsequent probabilities of offending. We have controlled for factors that are theoretically related to each of the key variables of interest, but there is always the possibility that observed associations are driven by unobserved factors. In supplemental analyses, we tested other plausibly related covariates such as parental education, parent and young adult religiosity, and young adults’ delinquent behavior in adolescence, and young adult employment but did not find that these substantially improved model fit or mediated the association between family instability and criminal offending.
Nevertheless, this paper encourages a fuller focus on the role of families in shaping criminal behavior over the life course. Rather than analyzing early childhood family experiences as separate from one’s own family formation, we advocate taking a long-view of family influence. Doing so allows us to understand the multiple avenues by which intergenerational forces shape criminal behavior.
1 Children born or adopted into PSID families become respondents to the biennial Core PSID interview themselves when they establish economic independence in a household separate from their parents’. By 2015, the majority of young adults from the original CDS sample who were 28 years or older had become Core PSID respondents themselves. As a result of that transition and to contain study costs, young adults who were age 28 or older in 2015 were not interviewed in TAS in that year.
2 As of 2015, the birth history is collected only from PSID household members age 15 and older.
3 Other items such as illegal substance use, driving under the influence, and thrill-seeking, were unrelated either to maternal union instability or the outcome measures and were excluded from the young adult behavior index.
Stacey Bosick, University of Colorado Denver.
Paula Fomby, University of Michigan.
Question and Answer forum for K12 Students
Juvenile Delinquency Essay: “In our country, children are considered a gift from heaven and if the child is a boy then nothing could be more soothing for the family as from the very beginning children are exempted from severe punishment for any wrong commitment on their part irrespective of the gravity of the act.” This one statement itself says and justifies for the social evil, our society is facing today: Juvenile Delinquency.
You can read more Essay Writing about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.
Given below are two essays in English for students and children about the topic of ‘Juvenile Delinquency’ in both long and short form. The first essay is a long essay on the Juvenile Delinquency of 400-500 words. This long essay about Juvenile Delinquency is suitable for students of class 7, 8, 9 and 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants. The second essay is a short essay on Juvenile Delinquency of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below.
Below we have given a long essay on Juvenile Delinquency of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants. This long essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 7 to class 10, and also for competitive exam aspirants.
In ordinary terms, a child roughly between the age of 7 to 16/18 years who is involved in some kind of a ‘status offence’ such as vagrancy, immortality, truancy and ungovern ability is a juvenile delinquent. Thus, juvenile delinquency is not just about under-aged criminals, who get involved in criminal activities. In fact, the term ‘juvenile delinquency’ refers to the violation of a code of conduct or a regular occurrence of certain patterns of disapproved behaviour of children and adolescents. The well accepted age at present for juvenile delinquents is 16 years for boys and 18 years for girls.
Juvenile delinquents are mainly classified on the basis of their behavioural patterns. They range from the escapers, who keep away from school and get involved in petty thefts and armed robberies, destruction of property, violence and sexual offences. They are also classified according to the type of violation they commit.
Thus, psychologists have grouped juvenile delinquents on the basis of their personality traits as mentally defective, psychotic, neurotic, situational and cultural delinquents. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, the trend of children committing crime has an alarming echo across the country.
It is extremely hard to trace and keep a check on juvenile delinquency as of all the delinquencies committed by juveniles, only a small percentage come to the notice of the police and the courts. Traditionally, surveys suggest that delinquencies like theft, burglary, robbery, dacoity and other such offences are most commonly committed by juveniles. But recent statistics reveal that juveniles have also been found actively involved in riots, murder, rape, kidnapping and abduction as well.
Reason being that courts and juvenile rights advocates believe that second chance should be given to youth who commit crimes, so criminals are walking in the streets, living as our neighbours and in many cases committing additional crimes.
The delinquency rates are comparatively much higher among boys than in girls. Children from broken homes or disturbed families who are either homeless or living with guardians are more likely to indulge in criminal activities. Low education or illiteracy and poor economic background are major features of juvenile delinquents. But now-a-days, it’s not only street children who take to crime, even children from well-off middle and upper middle class families are turning to crime due to peer pressure and crime thrill the hunger of adolescents to be heroes among their friends, the need to portray class and style, effect of cinema have propelled the rate of juvenile delinquency in the society.
The media plays a major role in creating bogus desires and images in the minds of the youth, for which they are willing to do anything. Moreover, unmonitored access to the internet is another reason for growth in these crimes, as many are caught swindling money from bank accounts. Children belonging to the elite class, who are either sons or daughters of politicians, businessmen are also found involved in criminal acts. This largely attributes to criminals going scot-free in high-profile criminal cases, so the fear barrier no longer exists.
Increased exposure combined with isolation is the root cause of these behavioural issues. Children are growing up much faster, but their conscience and ability to distinguish between right and wrong isn’t developing at the same rate and they don’t feel the need to think things through. In most cases, the cause behind juvenile delinquency is defective upbringing or no upbringing, faulty or no family interaction. Children are not born criminals.
It’s the situations and circumstances that lead them into delinquencies. Mostly all juvenile offences have deeper roots and serious situational factors which are responsible for a child behaving in a particular way. Family plays a vital role in structuring the mental, emotional and behavioural patterns of a child. Other factors that are responsible for the rise in juvenile delinquency are unhealthy neighbourhood, cinema, pornographic literature and bad company.
In UK, child between 10 to 18 years become criminally responsible for his action and be tried by the youth court or could be tried in an adult court as per the gravity of the offence committed. In our country too, the time has come to bring some reforms in the Juvenile laws. There is a steep rise in serious crimes involving youth of 16 to 18 years of age as they very well know that below 18 years is the ‘getaway pass’ for them from criminal prosecution. The punishment should be made a big deterrent in order to inject the feeling of fear in the mind of the criminals.
Below we have given a short essay on Juvenile Delinquency is for Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This short essay on the topic is suitable for students of class 6 and below.
In the recent 2012 Delhi gang rape case, media too highlighted that ‘Most Brutal’ of all the accused person was the juvenile. For the brutalising act, he has been sentenced to imprisonment for the period of 3 years where others have got the death sentence. The principle that should have been followed for trying juvenile offenders is that Juvenility should be decided as per the state of mind and not just the state of body.
Juvenile Justice Act, 1986 was enacted by our Parliament in order to provide care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of neglected or delinquent as a uniform system of juvenile justice mechanism throughout our country. These days we have observation homes, reformatory schools, custody institutions, probation homes etc., to help juvenile delinquents reform themselves so that they can be gradually absorbed into the mainstream society.
Moreover, we need to pay greater attention to improving the average condition in a society so that no child confronts such situations that force them to adopt unacceptable behavioural patterns. We need to find ways and means to pool the youthful energy of the children in a constructive and desired direction.
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Abhishek, R; Balamurugan, J
Department of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Address for correspondence: Dr. J Balamurugan, Department of Social Sciences, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore - 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India. E-mail: [email protected]
This is an open access journal, and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as appropriate credit is given and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.
Juvenile delinquency appears to be the most widespread social issue in comparison to other social issues. Social factors and conditions have a significant impact on the prevalence of delinquency. Individuals who engage in criminal behavior before reaching the age of 18 are commonly referred to as juvenile offenders. The aim of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the research and work carried out on juvenile offenders, with a specific focus on the critical role played by social factors in all facets of juvenile delinquency. Additionally, this research seeks to investigate the social roots and influences that contribute to the criminal behavior of young offenders.
This article uses a literature review methodology to analyze research on social factors influencing juvenile delinquency. It synthesizes and evaluates prior findings to understand the complex interplay between social factors and young individuals’ involvement in delinquent behaviors. The study analyzed 80 articles from reputable online databases, focusing on juvenile delinquency, offenders, crime, and social factors. Out of the 80 articles, 53 were cited, meeting inclusion criteria, including publication within 2000–2023, rigorous peer-review, and reputable database indexing.
As per the findings of the research, it has been observed that children who grow up in households that exhibit affection, hospitality, and encouragement are comparatively less susceptible to the manifestation of societal maladies. Children who have experienced parental abandonment are at heightened risk of developing delinquent behaviors.
The presence of negative family dynamics and associations with delinquent peers are widely recognized as significant contributors to the development of drug abuse behavior. It is imperative for policymakers and preventive initiatives to have a comprehensive understanding of this complex relationship. Therefore, this literature review presented a distinct overview of the influence of social factors on juvenile offenders in India.
The negative behavior of some people within a society is one of the difficulties in nation-building because it can ultimately have an impact on a country’s infrastructure, financial stability, cultural identity, and overall societal progress. [ 1 ] There exist multiple categories of societal issues, among which is the issue of adolescent delinquency. Researchers in various fields such as criminology, psychology, and philosophy have been attempting to understand the reasons behind individuals’ immoral behavior for a considerable period of time. The primary focus of researchers and theorists has been to identify risk factors that may contribute to delinquency, such as individual, social, and environmental factors that can increase the likelihood of criminal behavior. [ 2 , 3 ] However, this review study was performed to profile the different social factors and their causes of juvenile delinquency, which will be presented in this article. Worldwide, more than three-quarters of the population lives in countries with higher levels of criminality. Particularly in Asia, there are the highest levels of criminality, whereas India holds a criminality score of 5.53 and is placed in rank 64 among all countries. [ 4 ] In many countries, violent crimes were committed by the younger generation and were increasing rapidly. Delinquency is typically brought on by poverty, difficult familial circumstances, and a lack of education. [ 5 ] India is home to a significant number of 444 million children who are aged 0 to 18 years and a 253 million adolescent population in the age group of 10 to 19 years, and there is a growing concern about juvenile delinquency in the country. [ 6 , 7 ] This includes involvement in various illegal activities such as robbery, burglary, riots, murder, rape, possession of illegal weapons, drug use, and participation in gambling activities. [ 8-11 ]
The phenomenon of juvenile delinquency is nothing new. [ 12 ] In other terms, it refers to a set of actions that are antisocial and illegal when carried out by an individual who has not yet reached the age of 18 (i.e. who is not an adult). These actions contradict existing criminal codes and laws. [ 13 ] The antisocial acts, which include begging, dropping out, insults, hanging out, stealing, drinking, and lying around, were socially unacceptable at any given moment and consisted of unethical and opposing behavior. [ 14 , 15 ]
The topic of juvenile delinquency in India has emerged as a significant worry for both the community and the government. Efforts have been made by the Indian government to address the issue. As per Section 2 of the Juvenile Justice Act of 2000, a person who is under the age of 18 is referred to as a “junior.” Two significant terminologies have been introduced in the field: juveniles in need of care and protection and juveniles in conflict with the law. A juvenile offender is an individual who has engaged in conduct that is considered a violation of the law and subject to legal punishment. A juvenile in need of care and protection includes individuals who are street kids, lack a guardian, are neglected, are at risk of mistreatment by a guardian, are terminally ill, are abandoned, or are in similar circumstances. [ 16 ]
The amendment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, was a response to the Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case. The amendment permits the trial of a juvenile over the age of 16 as an adult, but it cannot be subsequently applied. The amendment has categorized in the offences committed by a juvenile into three distinct categories, namely, “heinous, serious, and petty offences.” Individuals between the ages of 16 and 18 who have committed serious crimes are to be regarded as adults and face trial in regular courts. [ 17 ] In 2021, as per the report, there were 31,170 cases of juvenile apprehension in India, indicating a 4.7% rise from the previous year. The data show that a significant number of juveniles, specifically 32,654 under the IPC and 4,790 under SLL crimes, were apprehended within the age range of 16–18 years old. [ 18 ]
Family Factors: The deterioration of juvenile reprobate behavior is a solid illustration of the familial circumstances associated with it. These home circumstances include a lack of proper parental guidance, a lack of constant monitoring of the children, growing conflict between the parents, and parental neglect or abuse, whether it be psychological, mental, or physical. [ 19 ] Children with parents who do not respect the law or societal norms are likely to be intelligent. Homes have severed links with one another and ruined close interactions. A major contributing factor to youth crime could be shattered households. [ 20 ] It could prove challenging for foster parents, stepparents, or guardians to support a kid’s sustainable integration if indeed the youngster resents the fact that they are required to become his adoptive parents, stepparents, or guardians. This may cause him to stand out from the other children and cause further problems. This resentment makes it harder for them to have an impact on children through their profession or example. It is not possible to use the child’s inherent suggestibility to lead him painlessly and unintentionally down the path to an excellent behavior. If a teen does not feel loved and is constantly yelled at, he may become so angry and frustrated that he tries to leave home and turns to a life of crime. The following factors may contribute to inadequate love and care from their parents: inadequate knowledge and curiosity, a mother who engages in household work, and inadequate family support. [ 21 ] Like a child’s body, their emotions need the right food to work well. When a youngster lacks empathy and compassion at home, he or she misses out on learning from a positive role model how to treat someone else with respect and kindness. He loses the short break from certain responsibilities that is both refreshing and necessary for him to do his fair share of social duties, both as a child playing with his friends and as an adult. Even tangential factors in the family could contribute to crime. Parents influence the child’s psychological and physiological state as a result of their reactions, and that in turn significantly influences how he behaves. It is possible that elements that have a greater impact on a student’s emotional well-being and familial dynamics can have a greater impact on misbehavior than those that primarily influence their physiological health. [ 22 ] Although hailing from a similar family, one youngster may develop criminal tendencies, whereas his sibling can develop into a brilliant leader.
Individual Factors: Following the importance of a child’s home environment is the significance of their social circles. If parents are too restrictive, their children may seek solace in the wrong crowd and violate the rules in order to feel better about themselves. In a similar vein, if a kid’s parents are not there and the youngster is unable to distinguish between wrong and right, the child may choose to go with a circle so that they may feel in charge and protected. The child may have to conform to the behaviors of the group that they want to associate with in order to be accepted into that group, whether those behaviors include drug use or criminal activity. [ 23 ]
School factors: A child’s poor performance in school, whether measured by attendance or grades, is a major contributing factor in the commission of juvenile offences. The person in charge is the one who is responsible for taking care of something. Learning is just one benefit of attending an educational institution. A youngster who attends school is more likely to have a lifestyle that is beneficial to their health, including waking up, getting dressed, riding the bus to school, studying, and going home. The establishment of good habits and self-discipline is facilitated by these routines. If a student does not consistently attend school, they will have extra time on their hands, which might lead to their participation in risky behaviors. If the kid disobeys fundamental norms as they grow up, such as going to school on a consistent basis, they will eventually become an adult who has little regard for other restrictions that society imposes. In addition to this, a child’s learning skills are also a contributing factor. Those students who have difficulty meeting the academic standards at their schools report feeling alone. If the youngster is motivated, even when they are not doing well academically or otherwise, it is unlikely that they would turn elsewhere to feel good about themselves or to be acknowledged. Bullying may be a significant contributing factor in and of itself, producing feelings of social exclusion and ultimately leading to participation in illegal activities. [ 24 ] An excellent school cares more for its students, especially its younger ones, and maintains a discipline that is helpful for them. The majority of our underfunded and overcrowded schools do not have the necessary level of control. In these types of environments, when there is a lack of law and order, the youngster feels the need to take matters into their own hands in order to defend themselves. In addition, the degree to which the kid’s parents and instructors are involved in their child’s academic success is another aspect that plays a role in deciding how the child will feel about education. Due to the frequent inspections, the kid will eventually acquire a feeling of accountability since they are aware that they will be questioned about their work and their advancement. [ 25 ]
Substance abuse Factors: Some youngsters are unable to function as regular members of society because they are exposed to harmful substances either at home or in their surroundings. Long-term use of such substances can lead to dependency as well as the development of unhealthy coping mechanisms to manage cravings. In the vast majority of the time, these people wind up committing crimes that they never would have considered committing otherwise. In situations like these, children seek the assistance of therapy professionals so that they can reclaim their sense of self-worth and value. [ 26 ]
Socio-economic factors: Although criminal activity may be found in every neighborhood, the incidence of unlawful behavior is significantly higher in economically disadvantaged regions. Children who live in these neighborhoods are more likely to engage in illegal behavior, such as shoplifting or getting into violent altercations, simply because they believe they have no other choice but to do so. It is possible that youngsters living in such regions may not feel the need to turn to criminal activity in order to make ends meet if they are given access to an appropriate education and the essentials for survival. [ 12 ]
This article utilizes a comprehensive literature review methodology to critically examine and analyze the existing body of research pertaining to social factors influencing juvenile delinquency. By synthesizing and evaluating the findings from prior studies, this article aims to contribute to the understanding of the complex interplay between social factors and the involvement of young individuals in delinquent behaviors. The present study aims to offer a comprehensive analysis of the research outcomes while also highlighting any existing deficiencies in the current body of knowledge. A thorough and extensive search was undertaken to identify pertinent articles from reputable online databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The search terms employed encompassed various aspects of the topic, such as juvenile, offenders, crime, juvenile delinquency, delinquent behaviour, and social factors. A comprehensive analysis has been conducted on a total of 80 articles that have been systematically collected and compiled for the purpose of this study. In due course, the present study successfully referenced a total of 52 scholarly articles out of the 80 articles that were gathered for analysis. The inclusion criteria for the selection of articles encompass the following specifications: the articles must have been published within the time span of 2000 to 2023, they should have undergone a rigorous peer-review process, and they must be indexed in reputable databases. Furthermore, only articles will be considered for inclusion in this study.
Family, peers, school and neighborhood.
The importance of the family unit in the process of bringing up children to adulthood is frequently disregarded, despite the fact that this factor can play a considerable part in determining whether a kid will engage in antisocial behavior. Factors such as traditional family values, child-rearing practices, mass media, parental responsibility, and a lack of parental supervision have been found to contribute to juvenile delinquency. [ 9 ] However, the probability of juvenile delinquency is influenced by multiple factors rather than a single factor, such as inadequate household finances, familial status (nuclear or joint families, homeless persons), and parenting indifference towards kids’ well-being. Recently, there appears to be a substantial correlation between criminal activity and a variety of socioeconomic and demographic factors, including dysfunctional family dynamics, drug addiction, and unpleasant experiences. [ 27 ] Children who grow up in loving, accepting, and supportive families are much less likely to experience the ills of society. [ 28 ] As a direct consequence of this, children who have been rejected by one or both of their parents are the ones who are most likely to develop antisocial behaviors. The child’s family is one of the most essential and influential factors in their social development, which in turn has a significant impact on how the child will behave and how their personality will develop. The breakdown of the traditional nuclear family unit is another factor that can play a role in the maturation of criminal conduct. Family violence has a major influence on the growth of children’s personalities and self-concepts, making it an essential component in the construction of these aspects of the children’s identities. [ 29 ] Earlier studies show peers encourage delinquency since they appreciate and emulate nonconventional social behavior, whereas parents limit it because they respect the conventional. [ 30 ] It is considered that peer groups are mostly responsible for the development of deviant behavior. [ 31 ]
In our contemporary age, juvenile delinquency has gradually begun to develop into a significant problem that has to be addressed. Because of this, there is a significant threat to the community. The criminal activity of young people is steadily on the rise, mirroring the overall trend in the country. It is vital to have an understanding of the primary factors that contribute to the development of juvenile delinquency. [ 32 ] This is the only way to prevent younger people from engaging in illegal, unethical, and damaging activities. There are still a great many ways in which all of these literature evaluations might be enhanced in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of how these structures connect to the factors that contribute to criminal behavior and its various components. [ 33 ] Even though society’s methods, which are concentrated on rehabilitative compliance with the objective within the judiciary, have a larger influence on conformity, educational institutions are increasingly using severe parenting practices to govern school discipline. [ 34 ] This is despite the fact that the purpose of the judiciary is to rehabilitate in accordance with the goal. The field of criminal science has attempted to determine whether environmental factors are responsible for increases or decreases in crime rates by utilizing concepts such as social disorganization, collective efficacy, and social investment. [ 35 ]
The number and impact of the media have both grown significantly throughout the course of history. Newspapers were the first form of mass media to receive widespread use throughout history, and then came radio, television, and ultimately computers. In the modern, linked world, information is simple to obtain by just pressing a button, which creates the impression that the entire globe has been shrunk down to the size of a town. [ 36 ] Today, children’s lives are dominated by a variety of forms of media, including both classic media such as television and new media such as mobile devices, iPads, the internet, and social media. [ 37 , 38 ] New technologies are becoming more common among children and teenagers, and a lack of self-regulation has resulted in a significant increase in criminal activity and aggressive conduct, which results in the emergence of juvenile crime. [ 39 ] The use of illicit substances is yet another significant contributing factor. There is a rising public health issue over the incidence of drug use among adolescents in India. According to earlier studies, there is a correlation between increased levels of engagement in the use of substances and more significant levels of involvement in criminal activity. It is possible that factors such as poverty, dysfunctional households, and a family history of criminal activity might serve as predictors of criminal behavior and substance use among juveniles. [ 26 ] Teenagers may resort to illegal activities such as theft, robbery, prostitution, or assault in order to get the funds necessary to purchase a narcotic. Furthermore, adolescents may commit violent crimes connected to the trafficking and sale of the substance. [ 40 ] It is said that the use of illegal substances such as alcohol and marijuana, in particular, has a substantial influence on criminal activities such as theft, deceit, and robbery. [ 41 ]
Children from low-income homes have a higher risk of becoming juvenile delinquents. Being poor can lead to feelings of inadequacy, unhappiness, and even criminal behavior. When parents are unable to purchase basic necessities, they may get their children engaged in the drug trade, which in turn causes criminality and young delinquency. [ 12 ] When it comes to a child’s whole physical, social, psychological, and moral growth, the function that society plays is absolutely essential. The effect of social standards and values on the behavior of a youngster can sometimes result in delinquency in that child. Children who were not properly watched over by their parents, who failed to teach them how to recognize good and bad, who failed to keep an eye on their activities, who were disciplined in a manner that was inconsistent and harsh, and who witnessed some level of violence in the home, are more likely to develop into delinquents. Children who were not properly watched over by their parents are more likely to become delinquents. [ 19 ]
Children who display immaturity or who have difficulties distinguishing between right and wrong are more likely to be affected by detrimental societal practices and ideals, which in turn increases the possibility that these children will engage in antisocial activity. In this scenario, education plays a significant role in the effort to reduce the number of illegal activities. It is possible for there to be an increase in the rate of juvenile delinquency in a society when there is an inadequate supply of educational opportunities. [ 42 ]
There are a few potential psychosocial factors that may lead to juvenile delinquency, which might raise the chance of juveniles engaging in antisocial activity. Being male, having a lower intellectual capacity, belonging to a specific race, being an adolescent, suffering from immigration and poverty, interacting with delinquent friends, experiencing child abuse, having poor academic accomplishment, and not having appropriate assistance from their parents are some of these risk factors. In delinquent youths, the commission of more severe crimes is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD), among other psychiatric factors. [ 43-45 ] Individuals with ADHD commonly experience comorbidities such as substance use and personality disorders. [ 46 ] Some of the factors, like psychological stress and depressive mood disorder, are usually found in juvenile delinquents and mainly result in stress, anxiety, and depression. [ 47 ]
In this review, our aim was to present an updated summary of the research that has been conducted on social factors and their impact on involvement in delinquency. This review also emphasizes significant areas that should be taken into account for future research. Several potential areas for future research have been identified but have not yet been extensively explored. It implies that the associations are far from straightforward and that the impact of these conceptions depends on a range of personal, societal, and environmental factors. [ 40 ] One of the findings of this review is that family factors are the most powerful socializing factors in children’s lives. Children who come from homes with negative family characteristics, such as a lack of parental supervision, are thought to be at a greater risk of becoming delinquents or criminals than children who do not come from such homes. [ 48 ] Peer groups have been widely acknowledged as a significant factor in determining youth problem behaviors. Numerous studies have demonstrated the negative impact of peer influence on youth behavior, including academic dishonesty, illicit drug use, underage drinking and smoking, teenage pregnancy, and criminal activities. [ 49 ] It is important for future research to consider the role of self-control and the changing nature of attachment among parents and delinquent peer relationships in predicting criminal behavior.
Further investigation is required to ascertain the effects of commitment and attachment to school, parents, and delinquent peers. [ 50 ] The key findings of this review suggest that preventative measures aimed at improving the well-being of children can effectively reduce juvenile delinquency. Additionally, it is important to avoid placing blame solely on the child and instead consider the role of their environment in shaping their behavior. Furthermore, the approach to averting juvenile delinquency in children involves the utilization of rehabilitation programs or rehabilitation centers for children. These facilities provide instruction on appropriate behavior and how to react in similar circumstances. [ 51 ] It is suggested that providing proper direction, schooling, and guidance both in school and at home can help prevent children from engaging in criminal behavior. [ 52 ] Children who commit crimes are not only the perpetrators of the crime but also the wounded of this broken society. If proper precautions are taken or guided at home and at school, juvenile offenders will be controlled and stopped at an early stage. Children’s attitudes and minds must be shaped and nurtured by their parents and teachers. The consequences of actions must be implemented and performed to allow young offenders opportunities for correction rather than designating them as offenders.
Social factors play an important role in juvenile offenders’ behavior in India. Juvenile offenders are when a child or teen does something erroneous and is younger than the legal minimum age in India. Juvenile offenders who defy the law are vagrants who persistently ignore orders and engage in behavior that puts their own and their families’ morals in jeopardy. Social factors significantly contribute to juvenile offenders in India, and one that has attracted the attention of Indian society is adolescent misbehavior. It is well understood that the depraved child of today may grow up to be a habitual criminal tomorrow. So, it is mandatory to organize and regulate juvenile offenders financially and socially in India.
In conclusion, this review highlights the ways in which social factors have contributed to a better understanding of the underlying causes of juvenile delinquency. Simultaneously, it is apparent that in each of the corresponding fields of study, there exist significant subjects of investigation that necessitate further examination. With this objective in mind, it is our aspiration that this analysis motivates upcoming researchers to further unravel the diverse mechanisms through which social factors hinder or encourage engagement in delinquent behavior.
The results of the study show that preventative interventions are needed to halt juvenile misbehavior before it begins. One of the suggested preventative methods is to identify young people who are at risk or who may become involved in juvenile delinquency by looking at the major risk factors. When choosing their friends and interacting with technology, teenagers should exercise prudence. Their parents and teachers can and should encourage strong relationships and open communication in order to create a happy environment at home and at school.
The researcher came to understand the precise research gap where he is going to investigate and extend his subsequent study as a result of the review, which forms the only basis of this work. Through this study, recommendations for further protecting children from all societal ills may be made.
Conflicts of interest.
There are no conflicts of interest.
Crime; delinquent behavior; juvenile; juvenile delinquency; offenders; social factors
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Mike threatened his mother, stole her stove, sold it, and used the money to get himself drunk. In the process, he tried to commit a robbery and was arrested. His mother later turned him over to the juvenile court. Some children drink, others fight while others are involved in violent robberies where they use guns causing injury or even death of innocent folks. These children, Mike included, can be considered juvenile delinquents.
Juvenile relates to age and varies from state to state. In some states, the maximum age for which a child can be tried in a juvenile court is 14 years while in others it is 21 years. Nonetheless, the 16 to 20 olds are considered to be adults in most states. (Colombia encyclopedia, 2008) There are two types of juveniles. Delinquent offenders and the status offenders. (Roberts, 2008) But what is delinquency? The juvenile justice system has always approached juvenile justice from two perspectives. Firstly, that the juvenile offenders are primarily troubled children who are in need of help (rehabilitation). On the other hand, that the offenders are criminal and the solution is punishment so that they can refrain from such behaviors. From this, there are at least two definitions of delinquents. The legal definition and the case workers definition. (Tappan, 1949) In the legal definition, a juvenile delinquent is one who has decided to act contrary to laid down law and rules (offender). As such, this person deserves to be dealt with accordingly to deter him and others like him from engaging in such behaviors. However, no offender can be classified as a delinquent unless the court has established it to be so. In the case workers definition, a delinquent is one who is personally and socially maladjusted in his behaviors, which is the root cause of his problems (involvement in offences). The type of child who maybe involved in such offences as running away from home or disobedience thus a status offender. (Tappan, 1949) A juvenile delinquent can therefore be regarded as a child offender.
According to Heilbrun, Goldstein and Redding (2005), the nature of juvenile offences have been changing/evolving over the years. Nowadays there are far more serious and violent crimes committed by juveniles than ever before in history. The very first juvenile court had been established way back in 1899 in Cook County Illinois. Before, this the children were mainly put into the same jails as the adults. The reformers were concerned with this situation and called for the establishment of a separate court system for the minors. However, the court was not established for punishment purposes rather to identify the causes of delinquency in addition to formulating individual based rehabilitation programmes. Hence, the principle of Parens Patriae which meant that the court was to act as the child’s guardian with a view to protecting the minor.
Fast forward, today all states have separate court systems for juveniles. (Roberts, 2000).
Boys seem to be the most susceptible to juvenile delinquency more than the girls though there has also been an increase over the years in the number of girls involved. This could be attributed to the fact that juvenile offences are related to peer pressure and anti social behaviors such as drug and substance abuse. The role of the family and parents cannot be discounted in the causes of juvenile delinquency. With parents holding more than one job, they have little or no time for their children. The result is that the children do as they please because they have no one to discipline them. According to Kulla, parenting practices have considerable impact on children. Accordingly, delinquent parents more often than not bring up delinquent children. (2006) For instance, an alcoholic abusive father has a very high chance of bringing up children who may be just like him. The other aspect of parenting that may contribute to delinquency is the single parent family resulting from divorce, abandonment or even separation. The mother is all alone and the duty of bringing up the children and also disciplining them rests squarely on her. She might fail. In a large family the same is true because then all the children do not get the attention they deserve. This then brings into close focus the environment that the child lives in and other people who live in this environment too. Peer pressure is a cause of juvenile delinquency. Children get involved in certain activities because everyone else in their families and communities seems to be involved. They may also get involved just to fit in with their friends. This is the reason they might engage themselves in drug or substance abuse and in violent crimes. (Kulla, 2006) Other causes include early child bearing and maternal substance abuse when pregnant. The result is that the mother is less likely to become an effective parent while the child may be born already an addict which makes them more likely to become delinquents. Another reason has to do with the social economic status. Children born to poor households may become delinquents as they engage in criminality to supplement incomes. There are also situational influences where the child maybe seeking an activity for the thrill of it. (Kulla, 2006).
With the rise of juvenile related crimes from the 1990’s, the stakeholders, policy makers, legislators and the public were calling for more serious and effective ways of dealing with juvenile crime. There was a 28% increase in the number of juvenile offenders held in both public and private facilities between 1991 and 2003. (Juvenile offenders and victims report, 2006) The call was for federally enacted laws because then the juvenile courts were appearing to be too lenient on juvenile offenders with the rehabilitation efforts failing. In 1993, for instance, the Gallup Poll passed the state proposition that would result in the trial of juveniles like adults especially those accused of violent crimes. A whooping 75% of the public voted in favor of this proposition. (Heilbrun et al, 2005) At the time, there were high numbers of juvenile related crimes including in schools. The media is involved in highlighting issues pertaining to juvenile delinquency including the failures and successes of existing prevention rehabilitation and intervention strategies. The courts and the lawyers are involved in the trial and sentencing of juvenile offenders. They are charged with the duty of openly laying out the offences and penalties leveled so as to protect the same offenders from undue process or ill treatment by the police. The juveniles also have the right to a fair trial. More over, communities and health workers are also involved in the rehabilitation and subsequent re-entry into the community of juveniles.
There is general consensus that the juvenile justice system is working. However, it needs to be strengthened. More over, Heilbrun et al are of the opinion that early intervention, adoption of prevention programmes in addition to rehabilitation make better alternatives to punishment of juvenile offenders especially in minor crimes. Accordingly, only very serious offences should result in jail terms. According to statistics, about 63% of the public seemed to be in favor of rehabilitation while a paltry 19% was in favor of punishment. (2005) Over the past few years the juvenile system has undergone considerable changes/reforms. More serious offenders have found themselves in criminal courts as new laws have been enacted that places them outside the juvenile courts jurisdiction. More over, the new laws seem to be in favor of punishing offenders as opposed to rehabilitation. Further more, laws have also been revised such that some offences can only be tried and sentenced in criminal courts. For instance, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 permitted the transfer of 13 year old offenders, especially those who had committed crimes using weapons such as guns, to criminal courts. Concomitantly, prosecution decision making jurisdictions have been widened. This has resulted in the restriction of confidentiality laws in juvenile courts.
Ultimately, there have been calls from stakeholders that the juvenile system is not working like it should and therefore needs to be abolished. However, current reforms seek to combine punishment of juvenile offenders with treatment and rehabilitation. The Office of Juvenile Justice System and Delinquency Prevention through the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders proposes that juveniles who enter the system should first be subjected to an assessment after which they are to be subjected to early intervention. The strategy also proposes the employment of various intervention strategies, to address the numerous risk factors, mental health, social service systems and even after care. The main problem with the juvenile delinquency system seems to lie in the fact that is has been somewhat ‘adultified’. According to Heilbrun et al, the solution lies with the understanding that the prevention and intervention methods adopted will serve the public and the juvenile offenders better if only the policy makers could understand that the offenders are not innocent children neither are they mature adults. The enhancing of the authority of the courts as far as sentencing goes is one strategy that has been adopted as part of the reforms. With this it is well within the mandate of the juvenile courts to extend their sentencing into early adulthood. (2005).
There has also been the establishment of specialized courts that are to deal with particular offences and by extension offenders. This is in line with the development of a prevention and treatment programme in the juvenile justice system. In the United States, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has been key in juvenile prevention/intervention programmes. Among the strategies adopted include the use of the media to educate the public and also the use of partnerships. Through the media, information is provided about the causes and the nature of juvenile delinquency including ways of prevention. This calls for partnerships with individuals, community groups and other institutions. First, is the community/faith involvement. The Office funds delinquency prevention efforts that are community based. Through the use of art (music, dance, drama) the Office also seeks to educate the youth on the problems that their communities face including the importance of preventing crime and the best ways of doing so. Secondly, the Office focuses on effective intervention programmes and ways of dealing with conflict. These include anger management classes, training on social and communication skills plus the use of mediation and legal services. Thirdly, is family strengthening and parenting through the safe start initiative. The Office aims at early prevention, intervention treatment and response including the delivery of quality services to children who are exposed to violence in their families and also those who are a risk. The Office has included the cross age teaching techniques in it mentoring programme. The youth are able to share knowledge and skills with others their age, or others who are younger or older. The programme is also involved in providing information to community based organizations on how to start and run effective mentoring programmes on their own. In the risk and protective factors programme, the gang reduction initiative is central. The aim is to reduce gang activities in certain neighborhoods. More over, in this programme there is also the girls study group where information pertaining to risk and protective factors of female juvenile offenders is obtained. Within the youth involvement programme the activities of the youth courts, which is a community intensive programme, are highlighted. The youth are involved in judging their peers on minor offences. (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2008).
The use of the mass media in the dissemination of information is a workable intervention. It has the potential to reach many people. However, it may not reach as many people depending on the medium used. Various methods need to be used together for the success of this intervention, thus newspapers, pamphlets, seminars may all be used together. Involving the community and community groups is a good endeavor because they involve many different people and groups all who have something to offer. However, some groups need funding so that they can effectively carry out their programmes. The strategy of teaching the youth various social and communication skill is important in conflict resolution as they may not have been taught at home. However, this requires dedicated personnel who are also patient. The interventions have a high probability of success though the drawbacks lie in as far as misplaced priorities, unclear responsibilities, lack of information and resources. This in turn results in poor implementation of the interventions and policy gaps. Leadership then becomes indispensable. The Office of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has set the pace.
Reforms in the juvenile justice system will highly influence the prevention and intervention strategies even in future. According to Roberts, existing justice systems are unsuccessful when they fail to satisfy the need of the victims, communities and the juvenile offenders. The future lies in the balanced approach strategy that focuses on compensation for harm to victims and the community. (2004) In addition, the offender competencies need to be increased and the public protected through the inclusion of victims, offenders and the community as equal participants. This requires the formulation of new intervention goals and objectives, the reallocation of funds plus the formulation of new reporting measures as well as methods of data collection. Moreover, the provision of programmes that are well supervised out of school and detention may be of immense help. Investing more into the strategies that have been successful in reducing re-entry of offenders into the justice system will also produce results. (King County Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plan, 2000).
Juvenile delinquents are common in our communities. There are various reasons why they became delinquents. The failure of the family institution is the most important reason. The parents not being keen on disciplining their children because they might be too busy. Divorce, separation and the parents themselves being delinquents. Society has however contributed through the presence of social classes. As these children try to get out of theses classes they become delinquents. Peer pressure from friend and neighbors alike is another cause of delinquency.
The justice system established juvenile courts for the trial and sentencing of these minors. However, there is need for more proactive approach aimed at preventing the causes of delinquency in addition to offering solutions. These prevention and intervention strategies require the use of the media for effective sharing of information pertaining to juvenile delinquency. Besides, partnership with other individuals, community groups and agencies who are stake holders serves to strengthen the intervention strategies. The future however lies in the improvement of these strategies and strengthening those that have currently been the most successful.
Colombia encyclopedia, 6 th Edition. (2008). Juvenile delinquency . 2008. Web.
Heilbrun, K., Goldstein, S. E. & Redding, R. E. (2005). Juvenile delinquency: Prevention assessment and intervention. New York: Oxford University Press.
King County Juvenile Justice Operational Master Plan . (2000). Web.
Kulla, C. (2006). The causes of juvenile delinquency. Associated content . 2008. Web.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (2008). Juvenile offenders and victims report, 2006 . Web.
Roberts, A. R. (2004). Juvenile Justice source book: Past, present and future . New York: Oxford University Press.
Roberts, C. H. (2008). Juvenile delinquency: Causes and effect. Yale-new Haven Teachers Institute. Web.
Tappan, P. W. (1949). Juvenile delinquency . New York: McGraw – Hill.
IvyPanda. (2021, September 29). Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Intervention. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-delinquency-causes-and-intervention/
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The total effect of social support on aggression was significant (β= −0.24, p < 0.001, Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.38, −0.19]). Social support affected individual aggression through the following five paths: (1) social support → trait mindfulness → aggression (Bootstrap 95%CI[−0.07, −0.01]); (2) social support → self-control → ...
Community variations may account for the fact that some varieties of family life have different effects on delinquency in different communities (Larzelere and Patterson, 1990; Simcha-Fagan and Schwartz, 1986). ... The rise in violent juvenile crime during the 1980s has been attributed to the increase in drug markets, particularly open-air ...
Juvenile delinquency is a habit of committing criminal offenses by an adolescent or young person who has not attained 18 years of age and can be held liable for his/her criminal acts. Clinically, it is described as persistent manners of antisocial behavior or conduct by a child/adolescent repeatedly denies following social rules and commits ...
Effects and Causes of Juvenile Delinquency: Essay Conclusion. From the discussion above, it is clear that delinquency is an enormous societal problem. Juvenile delinquency is caused by several factors, including peer influence, influence by the juvenile's family, race, and other related factors like low self-esteem and trauma.
2000 Volume II: Crime and Punishment Juvenile Delinquency: Cause and Effect Curriculum Unit 00.02.05 by Cynthia H. Roberts Working with a population of cognitively low-functioning special needs students in grades 9-12 is often challenging, yet rewarding. By writing this unit on Juvenile Delinquency: Cause and Effect, I want to raise
This review considers juvenile delinquency and justice from an international perspective. Youth crime is a growing concern. Many young offenders are also victims with complex needs, leading to a public health approach that requires a balance of welfare and justice models. However, around the world there are variable and inadequate legal ...
Abstract. This document critically analyzes the role played by the media in heightening juvenile delinquency. It also gives some examples of real incidences where the media compelled juvenile delinquency. In addition, the document points out the harmful effects of juvenile delinquency that include death and physical injury.
Program effects were significantly larger when delinquency risk factors (d = 0.197), attitudes toward delinquency (d = 0.460), and attitudes toward punishment (d = 0.347) were measured, relative to direct measures of delinquency (d = −0.019). So, juvenile awareness programs have a significant positive effect on attitudes toward delinquency ...
An interview with a former juvenile delinquent is provided to permit the application of some of the theoretical ideas about delinquency to an actual case. The legal response to juvenile crime is traced from the early days of the juvenile court until the present. The involvement of the police, probation officers, the juvenile court, and ...
Juvenile delinquency, the term used to describe unlawful behavior by minors, has significant societal implications. This behavior can manifest in various forms, ranging from petty theft to violent crimes. Understanding the effects of juvenile delinquency is crucial for addressing its root causes and implementing effective interventions.
Abstract. This paper presents an overview of th e juvenile delinquency concept, trends in the. delinquency problem, factors that have been linked to delinquency, governmental efforts. to reduce ...
Studies find that incarceration in juvenile facilities also reduces college enrollment and completion and lowers employment and earnings in adulthood. Incarceration does lasting damage to young people's health and wellbeing. Studies find that incarceration during adolescence leads to poorer health in adulthood.
Social factors and conditions have a significant impact on the prevalence of delinquency. Individuals who engage in criminal behavior before reaching the age of 18 are commonly referred to as juvenile offenders. The aim of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the research and work carried out on juvenile offenders, with a specific focus ...
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, "Children Exposed to Violence." Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention funding opportunity, "OJJDP FY 2016 Studies Program on Trauma and Justice-Involved Youth," grants.gov announcement number OJJDP-2016-10040, posted May 9, 2016.
Juvenile delinquency, characterized by the commission of illegal acts by minors, remains a complex social issue with far-reaching ramifications. Understanding the causes and effects of juvenile delinquency is paramount for developing effective intervention strategies and fostering the well-being of adolescents and society at large.
Juvenile delinquency is a significant dilemma in our criminal justice system. There are. any factor. contributing to deviant behavior and delinquency that have remained consistentover tim. ors commonly pres. nt in current youth culture are peer influence, common youth activities,and. ocial media. This study e.
Abstract. The structure and stability of families have long stood as key predictors of juvenile delinquency. Boys from "broken homes" experience a higher prevalence of juvenile delinquency than those from intact families (Rebellon 2002, Wells and Rankin 1991). Unresolved is whether the consequences of frequently disrupted family contexts ...
Abstract. Juvenile delinquency is a quite serious social issue, and family is one of the important factors which can affect juvenile delinquency. This study mainly explored how can family factors ...
The second essay is a short essay on Juvenile Delinquency of 150-200 words. These are suitable for students and children in class 6 and below. Long Essay on Juvenile Delinquency 500 Words in English. Below we have given a long essay on Juvenile Delinquency of 500 words is helpful for classes 7, 8, 9 and 10 and Competitive Exam Aspirants.
referred to as juvenile offenders. The aim of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the research and work carried out on juvenile offenders, with a specific focus on the critical role played by social factors in all facets of juvenile delinquency. Additionally, this research seeks to investigate the social roots and influences that contribute to the criminal behavior of young offenders ...
The legal definition and the case workers definition. (Tappan, 1949) In the legal definition, a juvenile delinquent is one who has decided to act contrary to laid down law and rules (offender). As such, this person deserves to be dealt with accordingly to deter him and others like him from engaging in such behaviors.
The current study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the influence of changes in family structure during adolescence on delinquent involvement both cross sectionally and longitudinally. Our findings revealed a small and only temporary association between changes in family structure and adolescent delinquency.
Testing for time-varying effects, we find that the size of the effect of delinquency on peer delinquency does not vary over time (χ 2 Wald test (1) = 0.444, p = .505), whereas the effect on parental involvement is significantly stronger between ages 15 and 17 compared with between ages 13 and 15 (χ 2 Wald test (1) = 5.891, p = .015).
The community or neighborhood in which juvenile lives constitute an important context and it influences juvenile delinquency. This article describes the role of communities in the production of delinquency. It begins by identifying community characteristics of importance and describes why researchers have most frequently been examining these.