Adolescence and Juvenile Delinquency Essay - 1644 Words

I couldnt begin to cover all the possible reasons that may cause an adolescent to become a juvenile delinquent. During my research, I found that the term juvenile delinquency is defined a number of ways. Mosbys Medical Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary summed up juvenile delinquency best with this definition; resistant antisocial, illegal, or criminal behavior by children or adolescents to the degree that it cannot be controlled or corrected by the parents, endangers others in the community, and becomes the concern of a law enforcement agency(1994). I found that most theories about what causes delinquency in children and adolescents originate with families and parenting. Many statistics and studies have been†¦show more content†¦These advocates sort of differentiate between good and bad violence on TV. One example is the popular television show Law and Order, which is divided into two sections. In each episode is the depiction of a crime, followed by a trial of the accused. Probably the most controversial focus of juvenile delinquency causation can be attributed to the breakdown of families, giving rise to a large number of single parent households. According to Robert L. Maginnis, a link does exist between single parent families, juvenile delinquency and crime. Children from single-parent families, he argues, are more likely to have behavior problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents (Maginnis, 1994). Children from single-parent families are two to three times more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems than are children in two parent families (Bender, Leone, 1997 p.64). This report goes on to say these children are more likely to drop out of school, to get pregnant as teenagers, to abuse drugs, and to be in trouble with the law. Bender and Leone cite a study from the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency that reports the most reliable indicator of violent crime in a community is the proportion of fatherless families. Fathers typically offerShow MoreRelatedAdolescence and Juvenile Delinquency Essay534 Words   |  3 Pageswithin juvenile justice systems are, most of the time, youths who simply havent had the right mentors and supporters around them - because of circumstances beyond their control. -- Qorianka Kilcher -- Websters New Collegiate Dictionary (1980) defines adolescence as the state or process of growing up; even more specifically, adolescence is also defined as the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority. Looking back on their adolescence, adultsRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency And The Social Control Theory940 Words   |  4 PagesJuvenile delinquency is very prevalent especially among adolescents because studies have shown that during the time of adolescence that is when delinquency tends to increase and once adolescence has passed at about 17 years of age then it tends to decrease (Adolescent Delinquency, 2002). There are many factors that can contribute to the increase of delinquency during adolescence, some of the factors can be personality, mental disorders, genetics, economic status, environment, family, and cultureRead MoreThe Relationship Between Social Class and Delinquency Essays1498 Words   |  6 Pagespreconceived notions regarding the relationship between social class and delinquency. A common assumption is that lower-class juveniles are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior than their higher-class counterparts. Criminologists have performed a large number of studies examining the socio-demographic characteristics of delinquents, which often yielded contradictory results. When analyzing the extent and trend of juvenile delinquency in the United States conclusions can be drawn from estimates derivedRead MoreThe General Strain Theory Of Female Delinquency1253 Words   |  6 Pagestheories. A major theory used to explain female delinquency is the general strain theory (GST). According to Bartollas, â€Å"GST explains female delinquency by contending that many females experience harsh discipline, parental rejection, peer abuse, negative secondary school experience, homelessness, and a strong need for money;† these strains can cause females to cope through delinquent behavior (73). The social learni ng theory also explains female delinquency as â€Å"some females tend to associate with othersRead MoreThe Concept Of Labeling Of Juvenile Delinquents By Members Of Their Society1733 Words   |  7 PagesUnit 5 DB 1 The Interactionist Approach We are beginning to see more than often, labeling of juvenile delinquents by members of their society. The term labeling theory explains how labeling tends to applied members of society, whether it is formally or informally, and the type of effect these labeling can have on juveniles and deterrence. Akers Sellers, (2009), Bernard, Snipes, Gerould, (2010), states that the labeling theorists assert that society creates deviance by creating laws, and theyRead MoreEnvironmental Factors Of Juvenile Delinquency988 Words   |  4 PagesKnowing this, what environmental factors cause juvenile delinquency? â€Å"Each year, approximately 1.5 million adolescents are arrested in the United States, most are repeat offenders, and, in 2008 one in eight violent crimes was attributed to juveniles† (Leverso, Bielby, Hoelter, 2015, p 1). Understanding the environmental causes of juvenile delinquency allows society to better protect children from becoming offenders. This then can reduce the n umber of juvenile delinquents in the United States. Key wordsRead MoreDistinguishing Between Some Criminological Terms894 Words   |  4 PagesDistinguishing Criminological Terms Juvenile delinquency refers specifically to the criminal activity of youth. Juvenile delinquency includes committing crimes and participation in other forms of illegal activities. Across the world, the existing legal systems have different sets of punishments and penalties for juvenile delinquency versus being tried as an adult. (Loeber, 1990) In many countries, the age when individuals are no longer classified as juveniles as may be tried for crimes as adultsRead MoreReducing The Rate Of Reoccurring Offenses For Juvenile Offenders731 Words   |  3 Pagesrate of reoccurring offenses for juvenile offenders is directly related to understanding the factors that increase the recidivism rates for this age group: the origins of the offenders, the behavior problems and causes, the adjudication process, and the type of offense committed. Aalsma, M., White, L., Lau, K., Perkins, A., Monahan, P., Grisso, T. (2015). Behavioral Health Care Needs, Detention-Based Care, and Criminal Recidivism at Community Reentry From Juvenile Detention: A Multisite SurvivalRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency1154 Words   |  5 PagesA traumatic childhood may predispose a child to violence against themselves or against others, in adolescence or adulthood. This information is and has been off the records, but so far no known relationship between the magnitude of traumatic experiences and different forms of violence at puberty. A study published in Pediatrics, which involved 136,549 U.S. students between 12 and 17 has been commissioned to evaluate this relationship. The researchers sought to determine six adverse experiences forRead MoreBreaking Down the Walls of Delinquency1685 Words   |  7 Pagesexplore how family life influences juvenile delinquency. Juveniles are more likely to become juvenile delinquents if there is little structure pro vided for them in their families. Children who are rejected by their parents, who grow up in homes with considerable conflict, or who are inadequately supervised are at the greatest risk of becoming delinquent. Literature reviews, focused on the relationship between child abuse and juvenile delinquency, indicate that juvenile delinquents are often products