Juvenile Delinquency Essay examples

The term juvenile delinquent was established so that young lawbreakers could avoid being classified in legal records as criminals. “The laws were designed to provide treatment, rather

The juvenile justice system is imperfect, at best, and part of this stems from the fact that juvenile justice, as a specific, discrete category of crime and punishment is still a relatively recent phenomenon. In fact, the notion of childhood and adolescence as distinct phases of human development is a novel idea that did not truly emerge until the twentieth century, so it is only natural that some elements of the juvenile justice system seem to have been made up they went along. Now, however, after substantial research into juvenile delinquency, it causes, and potential solutions, a much clearer picture of the phenomenon is emerging that will allow parents, teachers, legislators, and law enforcement officials to better reduce juvenile delinquency without imposing unnecessarily harsh restrictions of juveniles. By examining the history of the juvenile justice system alongside more recent research into juvenile delinquency, it will be possible to see how the most effective treatments going forward will likely focus on reducing risk before delinquency occurs and rehabilitating juveniles already in the justice system, as opposed to more punitive measures that mark juveniles as a criminal and thus hinder them for the rest of their lives.

Juvenile detention facilities are a secure jail or prison for minors under the age of eighteen. Delinquents are sent there to await a trial or sent there for long-term care facilities and programs. Juveniles go through a separate court system than adults, which is the juvenile court. There are many different pathways for juveniles to take once processed in the juvenile court. the appearance in court and secure confinement implies that a juvenile has been committed. Other kinds of facilities are group homes, training schools, shelters, ranch/wilderness camps, and reception/diagnois centers. According, to the Juvenile Justice textbook, the juvenile justice system stresses rehabilitation rather than punishing youths. What effective ways juvenile facilities do to reduce recidivism? Corrections has served several goals from retribution, incapacitation, deterrence, and rehabilitation “More than 70 percent of the public agree that incarcerating youthful offenders without rehabilitation is the same as giving up on them” (the textbook).

The Adult Correctional system in the United States is growing at an alarming rate due to the increase in recidivism among adults. How do we combat the problem? The answer is quite simple. We start at the very beginning when the adults are involved in the Juvenile Justice System, under the age of eighteen. Juvenile delinquency is an ongoing issue within the United States that presents a challenge, not only to the respective court, but to the correctional system. It is often thought that the Juvenile System is separate from the criminal justice system due to the age of the youth. However, a lot of the same laws apply in Juvenile Court. A delinquent can be adjudicated with an offense and given a determinate or indeterminate sentence should the court feel that the youth should enter into the legal custody of the respective State. There is a strong correlation

Many juveniles in America are exposed every day to abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and poverty. These issues are a growing problem, and without successful intervention by a caring guardian these children will often struggle and fall into depression and desperateness. Frequently juveniles do not have the tools to manage the psychological and emotional challenges of adolescence, and they will ultimately engage in destructive or criminal behavior. In most cases the dysfunction that creates this delinquent behavior is ignored, and instead these kids lives are subjected to even further chaos when they are placed in the criminal justice system.

There is a moderate portion of juvenile law violations that are minor; however some young offenders are extremely dangerous and violent. (Caldwell, 2002) Studies have shown that most delinquent behavior stems from some sort of underlining issue or issues in a youth’s present or past history. State and county authorities must deal with these offenders while also responding to their personal social problems. This could range from child abuse and neglect, family issues and drug abuse, exposure to pornography and exposure to aggressive role models.

As they come into contact with the juvenile justice system different, delinquent youths are treated differently in this system. Notably, the jurisdiction of this system and its courts also extends to non-delinquent youths like dependent and neglected youths, and status offenders. However, non-delinquents are not only viewed differently but they are also treated separately from delinquents. In most cases, non-delinquents are regarded as children in need of help and supervision while delinquents are held accountable and punished for their actions. Nonetheless, non-delinquents undergo several similar processes and dispositions like delinquents because of the differing reasons for the intervention of the juvenile justice system.

The Juvenile Correction System is the fundamental system used to address and deal with youth who are caught and convicted of crimes, such as murder, robbery, and aggravated assault. The juvenile justice system gets involved in delinquent behavior through police, court, and correctional commitment. Throughout history, many individuals have tried to change the policies and process of the juvenile correction system. Some agree with the structure of incarceration and the treatment these teens “deserve” for breaking the law. Others agree on the rehabilitation of the youth back into society. There are many different perspectives the general public has towards this system. The juvenile justice system is built with many advantages and

Children as young as 14 years old have been tried as adults and are sentenced to die in prison without considering their age and the factors that led the individual to commit the offense. Society believes that a juvenile should be tried as an adult because it will help them understand the consequences of their actions, however, children and teenagers that commit crimes are too young and they don’t have the mental ability to understand the consequences of their actions. These juveniles are not aware of what they are going to face behind the adult’s prison bars. According to the National Juvenile Justice Network, it states, “ 200,000 youths are tried, sentenced, or

Juvenile delinquency is a critical concern to the general public. When adolescents commit crimes or are accused of an offense, they automatically become labeled criminals, delinquents, and deviants in the eyes of the courts, of the state, and of various people. However, is it fair to label them as such? When a status offense such as curfew, vandalism, or even disorderly conduct, is committed, the child should not be labeled a delinquent. The term delinquent should only be used if the child is a chronic offender of the same or different crime, or when the offense is more serious like murder or arson. Yet, because society is so

Juvenile delinquencies are one of the most serious issues that our government is dealing with and trying to eliminate. These individuals are known to have an anti-social behavior. These actions include loitering, loafing, pick-pocketing, stealing and killing to care for their sibling and also sexual offenses. Parental negligence is one of the major causes of juvenile delinquencies. There are other factors that contribute to the negative behaviors of the adolescent and children (Siegel, 61). Family is one factor with the highest effects on the upbringing of an individual. Almost all research workers have accepted that families of delinquents have to deal

If the judge concludes that the juvenile committed the offense, the judge does not find the juvenile “guilty” but “delinquent”. (Fagin 241) The judge also has the ability of sentencing the delinquent to community service, a juvenile detention center or another fit form of punishment. Authorities and teachers then treat “delinquent” children differently and several studies suggested that under certain circumstances, “official punishment appears to increase the likelihood of subsequent deviance as suggested by labeling theory.” (Bartollas 130)

Since the 60’s the juvenile justice system has been concerned with problematic children and juvenile offenders. The aim of the justice system was to act in the child’s best interest and according to the child’s needs. In 1967, the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice (1967) recommended that the juvenile court should be the agency of last resort and that juvenile delinquency should be prevented through early intervention and services outside the juvenile justice system. (Farrington, 2012) The Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 restricted the of the juvenile court to handle status offenders, non-offenders, child delinquents, and dependent and neglected children. This is how the juvenile justice system (juvenile

Statistics and crime data reveal that during the last quarter of the twentieth century juvenile crime had escalated to a new level. These juvenile offenders seemed to have the belief that they were pristine, the youth today present with a declining morality, and the state of family life was tragic in America (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). For century’s law enforcement agencies and truancy officers have battled delinquency. ‘Juvenile delinquency is behavior against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not reached adulthood, as defined by state or federal law (Bartol & Bartol, 2014).” More often these juvenile delinquents fall more under social delinquency because they are displaying inappropriate behaviors of aggressiveness, truancy, petty theft, vandalism, and alcohol or drug abuse. In many cases, these juveniles are caught and appear in

Juvenile delinquency has two main risk factors; parenting style as the number one and peer group as the second. While many programs exist to help delinquents, those that start after the occurrence of the behavior tend to be less effective. While the programs that intervene prior to the occurrence of the deviant behavior often end up more effective. The programs that intervene before the onset of the deviant behavior are known as prevention programs. Parenting style plays a huge part on determining a child’s future in delinquent behaviors. For instance, permissive parenting leads contain neglecting child’s activities and also lack of