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Essays on Juvenile Crime

Choosing the right juvenile crime essay topics.

When it comes to choosing a topic for your juvenile crime essay, it's important to select a subject that not only interests you but also provides valuable insights and information to your readers. Juvenile crime is a critical issue that affects communities and families across the globe, and addressing it in your essay can help raise awareness and prompt meaningful discussions.

The Importance of the Topic

Writing about juvenile crime is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows you to explore the root causes of delinquent behavior among young people, shedding light on the societal, economic, and psychological factors that contribute to criminal activity. Additionally, by addressing this topic, you can help debunk myths and misconceptions about juvenile offenders and advocate for more effective interventions and support systems for at-risk youth.

Choosing an essay topic that delves into juvenile crime can also help you develop a deeper understanding of the legal and ethical considerations surrounding young offenders. This knowledge can be invaluable for anyone considering a career in law enforcement, social work, or criminal justice.

Advice on Choosing a Topic

When selecting a juvenile crime essay topic, it's essential to consider the scope of your assignment, your personal interests, and the current issues within the juvenile justice system. You may want to explore topics that are relevant to your local community or take a broader approach to address global concerns. It's also crucial to ensure that the topic you choose aligns with your academic goals and allows for in-depth research and analysis.

Consider exploring topics that challenge conventional wisdom, offer unique perspectives, or propose innovative solutions to juvenile crime. Additionally, be mindful of the potential impact of your chosen topic and strive to select one that fosters meaningful discussions and promotes positive change.

Recommended Essay Topics

Here are some recommended juvenile crime essay topics, divided into categories:

Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

• The impact of family dynamics on juvenile delinquency
• The role of peer influence in adolescent criminal behavior
• The effects of poverty and inequality on youth crime rates

Intervention and Prevention Strategies

• The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders
• The role of education in preventing youth involvement in criminal activities
• Community-based initiatives for reducing juvenile recidivism rates

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• The debate over trying juveniles as adults in the criminal justice system
• The ethical implications of solitary confinement for juvenile inmates
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentencing laws on young offenders

Current Issues in Juvenile Justice

• The impact of technology and social media on juvenile crime rates
• The overrepresentation of minority youth in the juvenile justice system
• The role of mental health services in addressing juvenile delinquency

Global Perspectives on Juvenile Crime

• Comparing juvenile justice systems across different countries
• The impact of armed conflict on youth involvement in criminal activities
• The role of international organizations in addressing juvenile crime

By selecting a topic from the list provided or using it as a source of inspiration, you can craft a compelling and informative essay on juvenile crime that contributes to the ongoing dialogue on this critical issue.

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Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice (2001)

Chapter: introduction, introduction.

Juvenile crime is one of the nation's serious problems. Concern about it is widely shared by federal, state, and local government officials and by the public. In recent years, this concern has grown with the dramatic rise in juvenile violence that began in the mid-1980s and peaked in the early 1990s. Although juvenile crime rates appear to have fallen since the mid-1990s, this decrease has not alleviated the concern. Many states began taking a tougher legislative stance toward juveniles in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period during which juvenile crime rates were stable or falling slightly, and federal reformers were urging prevention and less punitive measures. Some of the dissonance between the federal agenda and what was happening in the states at that time may have been caused by significant changes in legal procedures that made juvenile court processes more similar—though not identical—to those in criminal (adult) court. The main response to the most recent spike in violent juvenile crime has been enactment of laws that further blur distinctions between juvenile courts and adult courts. States continued to toughen their juvenile crime laws in recent years, making sentencing more punitive, expanding allowable transfers to criminal (adult) court, or doing away with some of the confidentiality safeguards of juvenile court. Many such changes were enacted after the juvenile violent crime rate had already begun to fall. The rehabilitative model embodied in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, focusing on the needs of the young offender, has lost ever more ground over the past 20 years to punitive models that focus mainly on the offense committed. These puni-

tive policies have had a disproportionate impact on some minority groups, particularly black youngsters, an important issue that is explored in depth in Chapter 6 .

Crime policies in the United States have been moving in the direction of treating juveniles as adults, even though many young people continue to grow up in settings that “fail to provide the resources, the supports, and the opportunities essential to a healthy development and reasonable preparation for productive adulthood” (National Research Council, 1993a:2)—settings that put young people at high risk for delinquency. In 1997, 40 percent of all those living below the poverty level in the United States were under the age of 18 (Snyder and Sickmund, 1999). Structural changes in society, including fewer two-parent homes and more maternal employment, have contributed to a lack of resources for the supervision of children's and adolescents' free time.

Government policy on juvenile delinquency must often struggle with the appropriate balance of concern over the healthy development of children and adolescents who violate the law and a public desire to punish criminals. This tension between rehabilitation and punishment when dealing with children and adolescents who commit crimes results in an ambivalent orientation toward young offenders. Criminal acts must be suppressed, condemned, and punished. Nevertheless, children and adolescents who commit criminal acts must be educated and supported in a growth process that should be the objective of government policy for all young people, including young offenders.

A number of cognitive and social features of childhood and adolescence influence the content of juvenile crime policy. Historically, children under the age of seven have been considered below the age of reason, and therefore unable to formulate the criminal intent necessary to be held accountable for criminal offenses. In practice, children younger than age 10 are rarely involved in the juvenile justice system. Arrests of those younger than 10 years old account for less than 2 percent of all juvenile arrests. By the age of 16 or 17, most adolescents are deemed to have sufficient cognitive capacity and life experience to be held accountable for intended wrongful acts. How to deal appropriately with those who commit crimes between the ages of 10 and 17 is the issue faced in juvenile crime policy. Adolescence is a period of dating, driving, and expanding social networks—all choices that can produce positive or negative consequences for the adolescent and the community. Public policies in the areas of education, medical care, alcoholic beverage control, and juvenile crime reflect beliefs that adolescents have not acquired the abilities or capacities necessary for adult status. Creating the appropriate public policy for a period of semiautonomy is no small task (Zimring, 1982). To

further complicate the matter, crime rates peak in mid- to late adolescence, making policy toward young offenders of special importance.

To best answer the questions of how to deal with young offenders requires knowledge of factors in the individual, family, social settings, and community that influence the development of delinquent behavior; of the types of offenses committed by young people; and of the types of interventions that can most efficiently and effectively prevent offending in the first place or prevent its recurrence. This study reviews literature in all of these areas to provide an objective view of juvenile crime and the juvenile justice system in the United States.

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT: NOT JUST LITTLE ADULTS

What is often missing from discussions of juvenile crime today is recognition that children and adolescents are not just little adults, nor is the world in which they live the world of adults. Physical, emotional, and cognitive development continue throughout adolescence. Although young people can approach decisions in a manner similar to adults under some circumstances, many decisions that children and adolescents make are under precisely the conditions that are hardest for adults—unfamiliar tasks, choices with uncertain outcomes, and ambiguous situations (see, for example, Beyth-Marom and Fischhoff, 1997; Cohn et al., 1995). Further complicating the matter for children and adolescents is that they often face deciding whether or not to engage in a risky behavior, such as taking drugs, shoplifting, or getting into a fight, in situations involving emotions, stress, peer pressure, and little time for reflection.

Young people are liable to overestimate their own understanding of a situation, underestimate the probability of negative outcomes, and make judgments based on incorrect or incomplete information (Quadrel et al., 1993). Although adults are also prone to the same misperceptions, children's and adolescents' lack of experience increases their vulnerability. Quadrel et al. (1993) found that high-risk adolescents (with legal and substance abuse problems, recruited from group homes) were more likely than middle-class youngsters to have incorrect information about risks, while being extremely confident in their information.

Emotions can affect decision making for both adolescents and adults. When people are experiencing positive emotions, such as excitement, happiness, love (as adolescents often do when with groups of their peers), they tend to underestimate the possibility of negative consequences to their actions. When experiencing negative emotions, such as anger, jealousy, sadness, people tend to focus on the near term and lose sight of

the big picture. This is particularly relevant for adolescents, who have been found to experience wider and more rapid mood swings than adults (Larson et al., 1980; Larson and Lampman-Petraitis, 1989; Larson and Richards, 1994).

Studies of young people's understanding of legal processing and the consequences of various legal choices, such as forfeiting the right to remain silent or to have an attorney, show differences between those younger and older than about 15 years (Grisso, 1997). Those under age 15 often misunderstand the concept of a right, in general, and of Miranda rights, in particular. They foresee fewer alternative courses of action in legal proceedings and tend to concentrate on short-term rather than long-term consequences (Grisso, 1980; 1981). For example, younger youth often misconstrue the right to remain silent, believing it means they should be quiet until they are told to talk. Nor do they completely understand the right to have an attorney present, without charge, before they talk (Abramovitch et al., 1995; Grisso, 1981). These misunderstandings raise concerns about children's and young adolescents' competence to stand trial in adult court. Children and adolescents from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds and those with low IQs fare worse in understanding the legal process and their rights than do other children and adolescents of comparable ages (Grisso, 1997). Furthermore, experience with the justice system does not ensure that young people fully understand the process, their rights, or the implications of the decisions they make. Both Grisso (1981) and Lawrence (1983) have found that adolescent delinquents had much poorer understanding of their rights than did adult defendants.

Emerging research using magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrates the cognitive and emotional differences between adolescents and adults. Children and adolescents process emotionally charged information in the part of the brain responsible for instinct and gut reactions. Adults process such information in the “rational” frontal section of the brain (Baird et al., 1999). Children and adolescents may be physiologically less capable than adults of reasoning logically in the face of particularly strong emotions. In a recent study, Thompson et al. (2000) found that the brain continues to develop and change through at least midadolescence, with the most active parts of the brain changing during development. These new insights on brain development may have implications for holding children and adolescents criminally responsible in the same way as adults and raise concerns about initiatives to transfer younger and younger defendants to adult courts.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE 1

Looking at the policies of other countries provides some perspective on criminal justice in the United States. An international study of 15 countries—Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England and Wales, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland—notes that all have special provisions for young criminals in their justice systems, although some (such as Denmark, Russia, and Sweden) have no special courts for juveniles. Table 1-1 depicts some of the differences among countries, showing the range in variability for the minimum age of criminal responsibility, the age at which full responsibility as an adult can be assumed, the type of court that handles young people committing crimes, whether such young people can be tried in courts that also try adults, the maximum length of sentencing for a juvenile, and policies regarding incarcerating juveniles with adults.

The United States was not alone in seeing a dramatic increase in violent crime by juveniles in the 1980s and early 1990s. Many European countries and Canada experienced increases in their rates of violent crime, particularly among juveniles (Hagan and Foster, 2000; Pfeiffer, 1998). It is difficult to compare rates across countries, because legal definitions of crime vary from country to country. For example, in Germany, assault is counted as a violent crime only if a weapon is used during the commission of the crime, whereas in England and Wales, the degree of injury to the victim determines whether or not an assault counts as a violent crime. Crime is also measured differently in each country. For example, the United States commonly relies on numbers of arrests to measure crime. In Germany, Austria, and Italy, among other countries, crime is measured by the number of cases solved by police (even if the offender has been apprehended) (Pfeiffer, 1998). Nevertheless, trends in juvenile violent crime appeared similar in many developed countries in the 1980s and early 1990s, 2 although the rates were different.

The United States has a high violent crime rate—particularly for homicide—in comparison to other countries, although property crime rates, particularly burglary, are higher than U.S. rates in Canada, England and Wales, and The Netherlands (Hagan and Foster, 2000; Mayhew and White, 1997). In 1994, the violent crime arrest rate (includes homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and rape) for 13- to 17-year-olds in the United

TABLE 1-1 International Comparisons of Juvenile Justice Systems

States was nearly 800 per 100,000 (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1995). In England and Wales, about 600 per 100,000 14- to 16-year-olds were convicted or cautioned by the police for violent crimes (homicide, assault, robbery, and rape) in 1994. In Germany, 650 per 100,000 14- to 17-year-olds and in The Netherlands 450 per 100,000 12- to 17-year-olds were suspects of violent crime in 1994 (Pfeiffer, 1998).

Comparing how different countries deal with juvenile offenders is equally challenging. Countries differ in the ages of young people considered legal juveniles, in how juvenile courts are organized, and in the types of institution used to sanction juvenile offenders. As Table 1-1 shows, the minimum age for being considered criminally responsible varies from 7 years (in Switzerland and the Australian state of Tasmania) to 16 (in Belgium and Russia). The age of full criminal responsibility (i.e., the age at which an offender is automatically handled as an adult) is 18 in most of the countries studied by Weitekamp et al. (1999), but is as low as 16 in some Australian states and is 20 in Japan. In the United States, both minimum and maximum ages of juvenile court jurisdiction vary by state, with most states having no minimum age (although in practice, children younger than 10 are seldom seen in juvenile courts). The maximum age of juvenile court jurisdiction is younger in many U.S. states than in the other countries studied, with 3 states having a maximum age of 15, 10 of 16, and the remaining states having a maximum age of 17.

At the same time that states and the federal government in the United States have been moving toward treating juvenile offenders more like adult criminals, many other countries retain a strong rehabilitative stance. The 1988 Youth Court Law of Austria, for example, describes juvenile offending as a normal step in development for which restorative justice, not punishment, is the appropriate response. The Belgium Youth Court Protection Act specifies that the only measures that can be imposed on a juvenile are for his or her care, protection, and education. In New Zealand, since 1989, Family Group Conferences have been used to replace or supplement youth courts for most of the serious criminal cases. In the early 1980s, England and Wales moved toward community-based sanctions for young offenders and away from institutional placements. This trend was reversed in the 1990s, however, when England and Wales reacted to the upswing in juvenile violence in a manner similar to the United States, focusing on the offense, rather than the offender. The U.K. Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994 made it easier to place offenders younger than 15 years in juvenile correctional facilities and extended the maximum length of allowable sentences. The U.K. Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 moved the English juvenile justice system even further toward a punitive, offense-based model.

Neither Sweden nor Denmark uses a separate juvenile court, but youthful immaturity is considered a mitigating factor in deciding their criminal responsibility. In Denmark, maximum punishments well below those available for adults are specified in law for juveniles 15 and older; juveniles under the age of 15 may not be punished, but may be referred to a social welfare agency. In Sweden, imprisonment may only be imposed on juveniles under exceptional circumstances, and even then, the sentences imposed are shorter than for adults.

The United States has a very high overall rate of incarceration. At 645 per 100,000, the U.S. incarceration rate is second only to that of Russia at 685 per 100,000 (Walmsley, 1999). Although adequate juvenile incarceration figures do not exist in the United States, the incarceration rate for homicides committed by juveniles is illustrative of the difference in incarceration rates. In 1992, 12.5 people per 100,000 were incarcerated in the United States for homicides committed as juveniles. Comparable numbers in other countries are 2.3 per 100,000 in The Netherlands, 1.6 per 100,000 in Italy, and 1.3 per 100,000 in Germany (Pfeiffer, 1998). Some of the differences in juvenile homicide incarceration rates are likely to be due to differences in homicide commission rates. In none of the 15 countries surveyed by Weitekamp et al. (1999) can a juvenile who commits a crime be executed, whereas this practice is allowed in the United States.

CHARGE TO THE PANEL

The Panel on Juvenile Crime: Prevention, Treatment, and Control was asked to identify and analyze the full range of research studies and datasets that bear on the nature of juvenile crime, highlighting key issues and data sources that can provide evidence of prevalence and seriousness; race, gender, and class bias; and impacts of deterrence, punishment, and prevention strategies. The panel was further asked to analyze the factors that contribute to delinquent behavior, including a review of the knowledge on child and adolescent development and its implications for prevention and control; to assess the current practices of the juvenile justice system, including the implementation of constitutional safeguards; to examine adjudication, detention and waiver practices; to explore the role of community and institutional settings; to assess the quality of data sources on the clients of both public and private juvenile justice facilities; and to assess the impact of the deinstitutionalization mandates of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 on delinquency and community safety.

To meet this charge, the study panel and staff gathered information in a number of ways. Relevant research studies were identified through

targeted searches of UnCover, Medline, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), and the National Criminal Justice Research Service (NCJRS). The panel met six times between June 1998 and October 1999 to discuss data availability and research findings, identify critical issues, analyze the data and issues, seek additional information on specific concerns, formulate conclusions and recommendations, and develop this report. Four of these meetings were preceded by workshops at which experts presented information on selected topics and engaged in discussions with panel members. Workshops were held on education and delinquency, juvenile justice system issues, developmental issues relevant to delinquency, and racial disparity in the juvenile justice system. (See Appendix E for workshop agendas.) In addition to the workshops, Howard Snyder, research director of the National Center for Juvenile Justice, spent part of one meeting discussing relevant datasets with the panel members. The panel commissioned three papers: “International Comparison of Juvenile Justice Systems ” by Elmar Weitekamp, Hans-Juergen Kerner, and Gernot Trueg; “Police Encounters with Juvenile Suspects” by Robert Worden and Stephanie Myers; and “The Indeterminancy of Forecasts of Crime Rates and Juvenile Offenses ” by Kenneth Land and Patricia McCall. Several members of the panel made site visits to juvenile detention and correctional facilities in Texas and New York. Study panel members and staff also consulted informally with various experts between meetings.

The charge to the panel was extremely broad, covering many topics that merit books unto themselves, and indeed some of the areas have been the subject of more than one recent book. The panel chose to provide a broad overview of juvenile crime and the juvenile justice system, touching on all the topics in its charge, but going into various levels of depth depending on the amount and quality of data available. In organizing its plan for the study, the panel focused on answering several questions:

What have been the major trends in juvenile crime over the past 20 to 30 years, and what can be predicted about future trends?

What is the role of developmental factors in delinquent behavior and how do families, peers, communities, and social influences contribute to or inhibit that behavior?

What responses are in place to deal with juvenile crime today, are they developmentally appropriate, and do they work?

This report reviews the data and research available to answer these questions, suggests areas that require additional research, and makes recommendations about policies for dealing with child and adolescent offenders.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS REPORT

The terms juvenile and delinquency (or delinquent ) have specific legal meanings in state and federal law. In this report, however, the panel uses the term juvenile 3 in its general sense, referring to anyone under the age of 18, unless otherwise specified. The terms young person, youngster, youth, and child and adolescent are used synonymously with juvenile. For many of the analyses of crime trends in Chapter 2 , juvenile refers to those between the ages of 10 and 17, because those under the age of 10 are seldom arrested. We use the term adolescent to refer specifically to young people between the ages of 13 and 17.

The term delinquency 4 in this report refers to acts by a juvenile that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult, as well as to actions that are illegal only because of the age of the offender. The report uses the term criminal delinquency to refer specifically to the former and status delinquency to refer specifically to the latter. Criminal delinquency offenses include, for example, homicide, robbery, assault, burglary, and theft. The term juvenile crime is used synonymously with criminal delinquency. Status delinquency offenses include truancy, running away from home, incorrigibility (i.e., habitually disobeying reasonable and lawful commands of a parent, guardian, or custodian; also referred to in various statutes as unruly, uncontrollable, or ungovernable behavior), and liquor law violations. In some states, status delinquents are referred to the child welfare or social service systems, while in others status delinquents are dealt with in the juvenile justice system.

PLAN OF THE REPORT

Following this introduction, Chapter 2 discusses the datasets commonly used to measure juvenile crime rates, examining the relative strengths and weaknesses of each. The chapter then discusses the trends in juvenile crime rates over the past several decades and how trends differ depending on the dataset employed. Differences in crime rates and

types of offense by sex and race are noted. The chapter ends with a discussion of forecasting juvenile crime rates.

Chapter 3 examines factors related to the development of antisocial behavior and delinquency. Several other recent reports (Loeber et al., 1998; Rutter et al., 1998) have extensively reviewed the research on many of these factors, particularly as they relate to the development of serious, violent offending. In this report we have attempted to supplement these other reports rather than duplicate their literature reviews. In addition, this report does not confine its discussion to serious, violent offending.

Chapters 4 and 5 cover responses to the problem of youth crime. Chapter 4 focuses on preventive interventions aimed at individuals, peer groups, and families, interventions delivered in schools, and community-based interventions. Chapter 5 describes the juvenile justice system process in the United States and discusses treatment and intervention programs delivered through the juvenile justice system.

Chapter 6 examines the issue of racial disparity in the juvenile justice system, discussing explanations that have been put forth to explain that disparity and the research support for those explanations.

The panel's conclusions and recommendations for research and policy can be found at the end of each chapter.

Even though youth crime rates have fallen since the mid-1990s, public fear and political rhetoric over the issue have heightened. The Columbine shootings and other sensational incidents add to the furor. Often overlooked are the underlying problems of child poverty, social disadvantage, and the pitfalls inherent to adolescent decisionmaking that contribute to youth crime. From a policy standpoint, adolescent offenders are caught in the crossfire between nurturance of youth and punishment of criminals, between rehabilitation and "get tough" pronouncements. In the midst of this emotional debate, the National Research Council's Panel on Juvenile Crime steps forward with an authoritative review of the best available data and analysis. Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice presents recommendations for addressing the many aspects of America's youth crime problem.

This timely release discusses patterns and trends in crimes by children and adolescents—trends revealed by arrest data, victim reports, and other sources; youth crime within general crime; and race and sex disparities. The book explores desistance—the probability that delinquency or criminal activities decrease with age—and evaluates different approaches to predicting future crime rates.

Why do young people turn to delinquency? Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice presents what we know and what we urgently need to find out about contributing factors, ranging from prenatal care, differences in temperament, and family influences to the role of peer relationships, the impact of the school policies toward delinquency, and the broader influences of the neighborhood and community. Equally important, this book examines a range of solutions:

• Prevention and intervention efforts directed to individuals, peer groups, and families, as well as day care-, school- and community-based initiatives.
• Intervention within the juvenile justice system.
• Role of the police.
• Processing and detention of youth offenders.
• Transferring youths to the adult judicial system.
• Residential placement of juveniles.

The book includes background on the American juvenile court system, useful comparisons with the juvenile justice systems of other nations, and other important information for assessing this problem.

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Essay on Juvenile Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Juvenile Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Juvenile Crime

Understanding juvenile crime.

Juvenile crime refers to illegal actions by individuals under 18. It’s a serious issue affecting communities worldwide.

Causes of Juvenile Crime

Many factors contribute to juvenile crime. These include poor education, family issues, and societal pressure.

Impact on Society

Juvenile crime affects society negatively. It leads to fear and insecurity, and costs resources to address.

Preventing Juvenile Crime

Prevention strategies include education and community programs. These can help steer young people away from crime.

Addressing juvenile crime is crucial. By understanding its causes and impact, we can work towards prevention.

250 Words Essay on Juvenile Crime

Introduction.

Juvenile crime, a crucial social issue, refers to the participation of minors in illegal activities. It is an alarming concern due to its implications for the future of our society.

Understanding the root causes of juvenile crime is essential. They are often a mix of social, economic, and psychological factors. For instance, lack of parental guidance, exposure to violence, poverty, and peer pressure can propel a juvenile towards crime.

The Impact on Society

Juvenile delinquency has far-reaching effects on the individual and society. It not only disrupts the life of the juvenile but also contributes to societal instability. Moreover, it imposes a heavy financial burden on the state for rehabilitation, law enforcement, and victim compensation.

Prevention and Rehabilitation

Preventing juvenile crime requires a holistic approach, addressing the underlying causes. Early intervention programs, education, and family support can help steer juveniles away from crime. For those already involved, rehabilitation rather than punishment should be the focus, given their potential for change.

Addressing juvenile crime is a complex but imperative task. It demands a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. Only through these measures can we hope to curb juvenile delinquency and foster a healthier society.

500 Words Essay on Juvenile Crime

Juvenile crime, also known as juvenile delinquency, refers to the participation of minors in illegal behaviors. This issue is a significant concern worldwide due to its impact on the individuals involved and society at large. Understanding the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to juvenile crime is crucial in formulating effective strategies to combat this societal problem.

The Causes of Juvenile Crime

Numerous factors contribute to juvenile crime, ranging from familial to societal influences. Family environment plays a pivotal role, with instances of neglect, abuse, or poor parental supervision often leading to delinquent behaviors. Similarly, socio-economic status and neighborhood conditions significantly impact a juvenile’s propensity towards crime. Children from low-income families or crime-ridden neighborhoods are more likely to engage in delinquent activities.

The influence of peer groups is another crucial factor. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to peer pressure, and association with deviant peers can lead to criminal behaviors. Lastly, psychological factors, such as low self-esteem, impulsivity, and aggression, also contribute to juvenile delinquency.

The Impact of Juvenile Crime

The effects of juvenile crime are far-reaching, affecting the individual, their family, and society. For the juvenile, involvement in crime can lead to a cycle of criminal behavior extending into adulthood. It can also result in educational difficulties, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

Families of juveniles involved in crime often face emotional distress and societal stigma. They may also bear the financial burden of legal proceedings and rehabilitation programs.

At the societal level, juvenile crime contributes to a sense of insecurity and fear. It also imposes significant economic costs, including law enforcement expenses, victim-related costs, and the potential loss of future productivity from the juvenile offenders.

Solutions to Juvenile Crime

Addressing juvenile crime requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation strategies. Prevention efforts should focus on providing supportive family environments, quality education, and positive peer interactions. Early intervention programs can help identify at-risk youth and provide them with the necessary support to deter criminal behavior.

Rehabilitation is equally essential and should aim at reintegrating juvenile offenders back into society. This can be achieved through counseling, vocational training, and educational programs that equip these individuals with the skills necessary for a productive life.

Juvenile crime is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Understanding its causes and impacts can help in formulating effective strategies to prevent, intervene, and rehabilitate juvenile offenders. By investing in our youth, we can break the cycle of juvenile crime and create a safer, more prosperous society for all.

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Essays on Juvenile Crime

Preventing Crime Through Providing Options There are two conditions that must be met for any crime to be committed. First, there must be a criminally motivated person—either an adult or a juvenile—and second, there must be a specific chance for the crime to be committed. However, there are practical and effective...

Due to implementation-related expenses, the US s criminal justice system places a heavy burden on the taxpayers. In addition, a sizeable part of the incarceration is due to juvenile recidivism; youths contribute to the overall rate of recurrence in place. The money is used extensively to combat youth recidivism. (McCollister,...

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In most criminal cases, juveniles are treated as adults Though this relies on how serious the crime was. As an illustration, consider the instance of a child murderer. Such situations are treated as if they were adult cases. Because children who perpetrate these crimes are aware that they will likely serve...

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Students, businesses, associations, and teachers have all participated in research projects at some point in their lives. Additionally, it is one of the most difficult jobs that demands more focus from the investigators. The first steps in the development of a research project include identifying the subject and determining the...

The authors of this study compared juvenile offenders' mental health and criminal histories. They found that young people with drug use disorders ran the risk of gradually intensifying their offenses. The authors make the case that young people should receive substance abuse treatment as soon as they come into touch...

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A young person who has engaged in illegal behavior A young person who has engaged in illegal behavior is considered a juvenile delinquent, typically between the ages of 9 and 18. The adage once a criminal, always a criminal is prevalent in America, but it is debatable and has...

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Police Authority to Detain Minors Police should be given the authority to detain minors in order to take them to a secure location or back to their parents, in accordance with the goals of the "Child & Family Services Act" (CFSA). According to Decker and Marteache (2017), who apply the deterrence...

To guarantee justice for children and youth who are caught in a crime, Canada has passed a number of Acts. The Youth Offenders Act (YOA), the Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA), and the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) are among the Acts. (Allen Canada & Harris, 2003). The fact...

Recidivism is the propensity for someone to commit crimes again after spending time in jail or a correctional facility. Juvenile recidivism must be prevented, which necessitates a thorough knowledge of the factors that contribute to it and the difficulties that young people encounter after being released from custody. (Aos, &...

I significantly revised my research paper to make sure I included all of the important elements that influence how juvenile offenders perceive their experiences. I ve observed that the field is very dynamic, with ongoing improvements made to how juvenile offenders are treated and how well prisons do their jobs....

Children do frequently commit crimes that are merely fatal or fatal in nature. They repeatedly carry out those acts because they receive punishments that are disproportionately less severe than the crimes they perform. Therefore, these particular perpetrators ought to be held accountable for their actions in the same manner as...

A problem called juvenile recidivism is on the verge of becoming a danger. Numerous studies have found that the recidivism rate among young individuals is rising. (Carney Buttell, 2003). Therefore, in an effort to mitigate the problem, policymakers have tried to come up with options to address it. Concerns about...

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Why Juveniles should be Tried as Adults

This essay about the debate over trying juveniles as adults in the criminal justice system presents compelling arguments rooted in deterrence, equity, and accountability. It explores how subjecting young offenders to adult trials serves as a deterrent against severe criminal behavior, ensures fairness and equality before the law, acknowledges their cognitive capacity, and allows for a nuanced approach to sentencing and rehabilitation. Critics’ concerns about adolescents’ development are addressed, emphasizing the importance of holding them accountable for serious crimes. Overall, the essay advocates for a balanced approach to justice that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the community.

How it works

In the constantly shifting landscape of criminal justice, the contentious debate over whether juveniles should face adult trials continues to fuel impassioned discussions and profound reflections on the nature of justice. While traditional perspectives have often favored rehabilitation and leniency for young offenders, there exists a compelling argument for reassessing this stance, particularly in cases where the gravity of the offense demands a more robust response. This essay endeavors to delve into the rationale behind advocating for the adult trial of juvenile offenders, presenting a novel perspective rooted in deterrence, equity, and accountability.

Primarily, the proposition to try juveniles as adults serves as a potent deterrent against severe criminal behavior. Within the confines of the juvenile justice system, there may inadvertently be a perception that young offenders can commit serious crimes with minimal consequences. This leniency, though well-intentioned, could inadvertently foster a culture of impunity among juvenile offenders, thereby encouraging further criminal acts. By subjecting juveniles to the same legal standards as adults for grave offenses, society sends a powerful message that such behavior will be met with severe repercussions, thus acting as a deterrent to potential offenders.

Moreover, advocating for treating juveniles as adults in the criminal justice system underscores the principles of fairness and equity that are fundamental to a just society. When individuals, regardless of age, commit egregious crimes, they must be held accountable for their actions. Allowing juvenile offenders to evade adult-level consequences for serious offenses undermines the very fabric of justice and equality before the law. Victims and their families deserve closure and the assurance that the legal system has adequately addressed the harm inflicted upon them. Trying juveniles as adults ensures that justice is not only served but also perceived to be served, thereby restoring faith in the integrity of the legal system.

Furthermore, acknowledging the agency and cognitive capacity of juvenile offenders is pivotal in the discourse surrounding their trial as adults. While it is acknowledged that adolescents undergo significant cognitive and emotional development, it would be erroneous to discount their understanding of the consequences of their actions entirely. Many juvenile offenders who commit serious crimes demonstrate a clear awareness of the wrongfulness of their actions and make conscious choices to engage in criminal behavior. Holding them accountable as adults acknowledges their capacity for discernment and reinforces the notion of personal responsibility in a civilized society.

Additionally, adopting a nuanced approach to sentencing and rehabilitation becomes feasible when juveniles are tried as adults. While the juvenile justice system prioritizes rehabilitation, it may not always adequately address the needs of individuals who have committed violent or heinous crimes. Trying juveniles as adults allows judges to consider factors such as the severity of the offense, the offender’s prior criminal history, and the potential for rehabilitation when determining an appropriate sentence. This approach strikes a delicate balance between accountability and rehabilitation, ensuring that juvenile offenders receive the necessary interventions to address their behavior while also facing the consequences of their actions.

In opposition to the adult trial of juvenile offenders, critics often highlight the ongoing psychological and emotional development of adolescents as grounds for leniency. While it is undeniable that adolescents undergo significant cognitive and emotional changes during their formative years, it does not absolve them of responsibility for their actions. Moreover, advancements in neuroscience have shed light on the capacity of the adolescent brain to comprehend the consequences of one’s actions and make informed decisions. Thus, it is both reasonable and imperative to hold juveniles accountable for serious crimes that they knowingly and willingly commit.

In conclusion, the debate surrounding the adult trial of juvenile offenders is a multifaceted issue that demands careful consideration of various factors. While the juvenile justice system plays a crucial role in rehabilitating young offenders, there are instances where trying juveniles as adults is not only justified but also necessary. By doing so, society reaffirms its commitment to deterrence, equity, and accountability, thereby fostering a safer and more just environment for all members of the community.

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Juvenile Crime Statistics Essay

Introduction.

Any arrest made on a person who is below the age of adulthood is termed as a juvenile arrest. The age of adulthood varies according to different areas and thus juvenile arrests also vary according to the different jurisdictions where the crime was committed. The age at which one ceases to be referred to as a kid and is considered as an adult makes a huge difference in the world of crime, for example, while in some places the legal adult age is at 18, in others is 21 while in other places it is as late as 25 years of age (Elrod & Ryder, 2009).

The Overall Decrease in Juvenile Arrests

As the report shows, the numbers of juvenile arrests made each year in the United States of America have been declining since the late 1980s. However, law experts have been arguing that despite the decline in the number of juvenile arrests made, these figures can reduce further if the juvenile courts were transformed from civil courts to criminal courts. This is due to the fact that with most of the juveniles charged in civil courts, their crime records are never recorded since most of the juvenile courts sentences are expunged or even forgotten after reaching the adult age and from here, the juveniles are expected to begin fresh lives and this has been a leading factor to the cases of juvenile crimes in the USA (Champion, 2007).

In order to control these ever rising figures of juvenile crimes, the habitual offenders arrested as a result of committing heinous crimes should be charged as adults as this would deter others from committing similar crimes (Wootton & Heck, 2002).

In the recent past, reported cases of juvenile crime have reduced dramatically as noted in a report by the Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Although the report notes that more than 2 million arrests of the people under the age of 18 were made in the year 2001, these figures were less compared to the past years. FBI reports further that of these crimes, 15 % of the juveniles arrested were due to violent crime. However, the report notes that this was a fall to 48% from the rising percentages between 1994 and 2001. It was also noted that the crime rate index also fell to the lowest levels during this year (Snyder, 2003).

The numbers of the juveniles murdered during the year 2001 also declined and of all the reported murder cases in the US, more than 90% were adults. Fewer juveniles were murdered in the United States of America than in any other year. The execution of murders during this year also varied with about two thirds being executed by the use of a firearm. However, the involvement of the firearm varied with the age. For example whereas 14% of the murdered juveniles under 13 were killed using a firearm, a high 77% above 13 or older were killed with a firearm.

The Increase in Drug Offenses and Simple Assaults

In contrast to the declines of major crimes as reported above, the rate of juvenile arrests made between 1980 and 1993 had remained in a constant rate however between 1993 and 1997 the rate increased dramatically but the rate fell to a lower percentage though the levels were still high compared to other years. In the same period, it was noted that the rates of juvenile arrests as a result of simple assaults increased, though the levels dropped, they were still historical high levels and thus there is need to check on them closely to know what really initiated these minor offences (Snyder, 2003).

Implications for Female Juvenile Female and Minorities

With more than 28% of the arrests made in the year 2001 resulting from female juveniles, this is quite strange because most of the times, such high levels are rare to record. The share by the minority races to the crimes also increased whereby the share of the juveniles in crimes reduced in the year 2001; however a larger share of the crimes committed involved the minority races. The report shows that more than three quarters of the juvenile arrests were whites but the blacks were over presented in the juvenile arrests involving violent crimes with a high percentage of 45%.The problems with the increased rate of crimes among the females and the juveniles can be attributed to the changes in crime opportunities and the growing intolerance of violent behavior exhibited by all genders (Backstrom, 1996).

An Assessment of Tracking Juvenile Arrests as a Method of Measuring the Amount Of and Trends in Juvenile Crime

The tracking of juvenile as a method of measuring the amount and trends in juvenile crime is a commendable method since it contains all the crimes included in the violent Crime index and Property Crime Index. However, the problem with relying on tracking juvenile arrests as a method to measure and predict likelihood of crimes can be attested to the fact that not everyone who is arrested actually committed the offence he or she was accused of committing. In addition, except the murder cases where FBI records might be accurate, cases of unreported crimes do not mean the crimes never occurred and thus the figures and the percentages presented might also be inaccurate.

Another shortcoming of tracking of the juvenile arrests is that with each arrest being calculated differently, if a juvenile is arrested for committing several burglaries, the arrest would show up as one arrest with no indications of the number of burglaries and also the fact that one crime may result in multiple arrests since a single crime is likely to occur with juveniles compared to adults.

Whereas the juvenile crime rates have been declining, controlling the vice completely is not possible and enforcement efforts must continue to deal with both violent and non violent crime offenders before it is too late. Whereas the tracking of juveniles as a method of measuring the amounts and trends in juvenile crime is commendable, its short comings need to be checked upon to avoid the existing miscalculations.

Reference List

Backstrom, C. J. (1996). Solving The Juvenile Crime Crisis: A Prosecutor’s Perspective . Web.

Champion, D. (2007). The Juvenile Justice System: Delinquency, Processing, And The Law, Fifth Edition: Prentice Hall, Inc. A Pearson Education Company

Elrod, P., & Ryder, R. S. (2009). Juvenile Justice: A Social, Historical, And Legal Perspective : 3rd Edition. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Snyder, H. N. (2003). Juvenile Arrests 2003 . Web.

Wootton, J., & Heck, R. O (2002). How State and Local Officials Can Combat Violent Juvenile Crime. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, March 24). Juvenile Crime Statistics. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-crime-statistics/

"Juvenile Crime Statistics." IvyPanda , 24 Mar. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-crime-statistics/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Juvenile Crime Statistics'. 24 March.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Juvenile Crime Statistics." March 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-crime-statistics/.

1. IvyPanda . "Juvenile Crime Statistics." March 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-crime-statistics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Juvenile Crime Statistics." March 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/juvenile-crime-statistics/.

• American Juvenile Crime Statistics in 2008
• Juvenile Statistics in Criminal Activities
• The Interpretation of Firearm Discharge Residue Evidence
• Analysis of Juvenile Murderer Case
• The Perfect Storm: The Adam Toledo Shooting Case
• Methodologies Used to Measure Acts of Juvenile Delinquency
• Should Juveniles Be Tried as Adults?
• Juvenile Delinquency, Its Factors and Theories
• Juvenile Arrest Rate for Violent Crimes
• Juvenile Use of Drug and Committing of Crime
• Life Without Parole and Juvenile Delinquency
• Modern Juvenile Justice Program
• Restorative Justice Program
• Juvenile Delinquency and Reasons That Lead to It
• Drugs Influence on Juvenile Delinquency

Concept of Juvenile Crime

Introduction, juvenile crimes, punishment of juvenile crime, reasons why minors should not be treated like adults in courts, works cited.

There has been a considerable rise in juvenile crime arrest and this is causing alarm to parents and the society at large. Sadly, parents no longer have control over their own children who continue to disappoint them. In the world we are living today, many juvenile have completely deviated from the guidance of their elders as they make their own decisions. Unfortunately, the decisions they normally make have only landed them into many problems (Ferro 43).

This is mainly because they lack moral support from their parents, guardians, teachers and church leaders. Apparently, most children influence one another into unethical behaviors that mislead them. On the other hand, some of them are often influenced by other factors such as television, radio and magazines. What usually begins as minor mistake usually end up into serious issues like crime (Giallombardo 35).

In other words, many young people are usually victims of crime as a result of trivial undoing. For instance, there are some children who like beating their friends at school, harass them or steal from them. In such instances, parents would be summoned to school as a way of solving the situation. If the guilty child does not change from such behaviors, he/she might end up into criminal offences.

When the juvenile commit crimes, they are sometimes arrested and taken to prison. The objective of this paper therefore is to discuss why minors should not be treated like adults in court. Depending on the severity of the crime, they should not also receive life in prison without possibility of parole.

It is so unfortunate that young people are engaging themselves into criminal offences. At their ages, they ought to concentrate on school work but not criminal activities that would only lead them to prison (Kupchik 101). With criminal activities, it would be very difficult for young people to embark on their books. Most of the juvenile usually drop out of school as they can no longer perform well in their studies (Giallombardo 23).

Other than this, it would be costly to withhold criminal activities in schools. This is because young criminals would cause disturbance to students and the teachers. However there are some juvenile who still go to school although they continue with their offences. Normally, the juvenile crimes include sexual offences, theft, drug abuse or violent offences.

According to statistics, most victims of juvenile delinquency are young boys (Ferro 71). Although there are young girls who engage in criminal activities, their cases are not as serious young boys. As a matter of fact young boys are more capable of committing crime than the girls.

In terms on sexual offences, young people are often found guilty of molesting their age mates or younger children. For example a young boy of 14 years may indulge into sex with a 5 years old child. The five year old child may be a younger sister, a relative’s child or a neighbour’s child.

Some of these cases occur as children play together or in the absence of an adult who can monitor them. Noticeably, theft as a crime is more common among young people. Actually, many children are fond of taking money or some items without asking for permission. Initially, they may start stealing petty things like pencils, rubber, ruler or pens from their friends.

With time, this may develop into serious theft if quick measures are not taken (Giallombardo 75). Probably, these children may develop a habit of stealing school equipments such as computers, printers or laboratory facilities.

This may also culminate into much serious theft that can only be handled by the police. In order to carry out their juvenile delinquency, young people prefer joining various gang groups. Through the gang groups, the juvenile are able learn more criminal techniques as they share ideas with one another (Ferro 55).

Over the years, juvenile crimes have steadily increased as governments are forced to implement strict penalties on young people. In America, juvenile delinquency has been contributed by the fact that many young people can acquire weapons such as guns.

With guns, most juvenile feel protected and can attack whoever they want. Whether to treat minors like adults at courts is a controversial issue that is still debated across the world. However, the manners in which juvenile crimes are treated in courts tend to vary from one country to the other (Ferro 90). Usually, minors can be arrested when they commit crime or may face death penalties in some countries.

Due to high levels of juvenile delinquency, thousands of young people face are often arrested and may even serve a life time imprisonment. Clearly, there has to be a way of dealing with minors who are constantly interfering with the society. Sparing them can only encourage more cases of juvenile delinquency (Moore 72). It is therefore the responsibility of the government to find out effective ways of dealing with juvenile crimes.

This is a very serious issue as it involves people who are future generation. If young people are left to do whatever they want, the next generation may eligible leaders. Narrowing down to criminal punishment, young people are frequently treated like adult criminals. In this case, the minors may receive life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

A court of rule can decide to give death penalty to a minor who has committed a serious offense. Other court judges may prefer to imprison a young person for only a period of time before they are released. Typically, there are government laws that influences the decisions made by judges in courts (Ferro 103).

While life imprisonment is an effective way of punishing criminals, it has proved to be costly as governments spend a lot of money in purchasing prison facilities. Maintaining criminals is very expensive because of many cases of juvenile delinquency.

Basically, prisoners have to eat, get shelter and have sleeping facilities like beds (Moore 48). It is the responsibility of governments to ensure that they receive the necessary facilities. Because of this reason, there are some governments who prefer to use death penalties on young people.

California is an example of a country which is facing financial problems as a result of spending much money in its prisons. As such, the country has opted to release some criminals out of state jail (Kupchik 112).

Primarily, young children should not be treated like adults in courts because some of them are still naïve. Brain wise, these minor are not in a position to make sensible decisions (Moore 81). No matter the intension of a juvenile crime, minors should not receive life in prison without possibility of parole.

Unlike adults, several children commit crime without knowing what they are doing. They might commit a crime because someone else has done the same. Adults on the other hand should account for their crimes since they are always conscious of the consequences. Minors deserve second chances as they can change if proper measures are taken. In as much as they may be wrong, young people must not be given death penalties.

Life imprisonment is not also a good option for juvenile criminals (Kupchik 78). For adults, they can receive life imprisonment and death penalties because they have few years to live than the young people. As a matter of fact, minors are future generation of who still have a long way to go.

Receiving life in prison without possibility of parole would prevent minors from realising their mistakes. Life imprisonment would only increase their criminal activities as they are confined in the prisons. Giving death penalties to juvenile can also make other minors more violent (Greenwald 33). In this case, treating minors like adults is a way of provoking a large number of youths.

Another reason why young people must not be treated like adults is because they may not be able to withstand a lot of pain. More often, adult prisoners are beaten up as a way of punishment. If the same is applied to juvenile delinquency, many minors would go through much pain. Considering the period of lifetime imprisonment, these minors may die before they even reach middle age (Greenwald 84).

For adults, they have fully developed body structures that can sustain hardships like carrying heavy loads in prison. Unfortunately, this may be tedious for young people who are still growing.

Carrying heavy loads might completely interfere with the growth of young people. There are better ways of handling children without treating them like adults. Instead of treating them like adults, young people can be taken to rehabilitation places where they can change their behaviour.

Fundamentally, juvenile delinquency should be treated with special care as they are the future generation. Moreover they must not be treated like adults who are usually aware of their actions. Young people generally deserve a second chance and do not have to face death penalties or life imprisonment.

Ferro, Jeffrey. Juvenile crime. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Giallombardo, Rose. Juvenile delinquency: a book of reading. California: Wiley.

Greenwald, Ricky. Trauma and juvenile delinquency: theory, research, and interventions. New York: The Haworth Maltreatment & Trauma Press.

Kupchik, Aaron. Judging juveniles: prosecuting adolescents in adult and juvenile courts. NY: New York University.

Moore, Lawrence. Juvenile crime: current issues and background. NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

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StudyCorgi. (2020, January 13). Concept of Juvenile Crime. https://studycorgi.com/concept-of-juvenile-crime/

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Cause/Solution Essay Topic: Juvenile Delinquency

Updated On Jan 19, 2024

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IELTS Writing Prediction Questions for 2024

One of the various types of essays that can be asked in the  IELTS W riting task 2 is a problem solution essay. IELTS problem solution essay requires candidates to talk about a specific problem or its causes and suggest possible solutions to the same. The problem-solution essay topics like Juvenile Delinquency are based on real-life situations and issues and are essential to be familiar with the pattern of the essay topics in order to perform well in Writing Task 2.

Given below is an example of a problem & solution essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have.

In some countries, a high proportion of criminal acts are committed by teenagers. Why has this happened? What can be done to deal with this?

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Cause solution Essay

Introduction

• Give insight about the topic and elaborate briefly.
• Give prelude to what can be expected in the essay
• Paragraph 1: Cause (Without supervision from parents or caregivers, children’s extreme behaviours such as aggression, hostility or defiance are given free rein to develop in their later lives. In addition, there is a direct correlation between the lack of engagement in educational activities and serious criminal offending in children.)
• Paragraph 2: Solution (The better cure for young criminals is rehabilitation. Throughout education and training, the youth can realise their wrongful actions and be given opportunities to turn over a new leaf and transform themselves into useful members of society later in life.)

Reparaphrase the question and end up with the solution stated.

Sample Essay

Today, youth crime is rife. Theft, burglary or even murder are now committed by people of younger and younger ages. The aim of this essay is to investigate the factors responsible for the increase in juvenile delinquency and put forward a number of ways to appropriately punish young offenders.

It is observed that extreme behaviours are exhibited by most children from dysfunctional families. Without supervision from parents or caregivers, children’s extreme behaviours such as aggression, hostility or defiance are given free rein to develop in their later lives. In addition, there is a direct correlation between the lack of engagement in educational activities and serious criminal offending in children. Out of boredom, children befriend antisocial peers and will gradually copy their behaviours. Media also plays an enormous role in shaping children’s criminality. For example, games such as grand theft auto can desensitise younger players to extreme acts of violence and cruelty, encourage them to commit crimes while giving them the impression that it is morally acceptable to do so.

Imprisonment is often cited as a way to punish juvenile offenders. However, it is my view that this approach can produce extremely destructive effects. The youth can potentially be victims of physical or sexual abuse from older prisoners, as well as can adopt their negative behaviours. I feel that the better cure for young criminals is rehabilitation. Throughout education and training, the youth can realise their wrongful actions and be given opportunities to turn over a new leaf and transform themselves into useful members of society later in life.

There are reasons to explain why today antisocial behaviour among the youth nowadays has reached a historically unprecedented high and rehabilitation is the answer for this.

Band 9 Sample Essay

It has been pervadingly seen that the crimes by the hands of juveniles, due to various reasons, is seen a menace to society and more so, their conditioning. This essay discusses the causes of this and the possible solutions to cope up with this increasing plight.

It is generally observed that such heinous offences by teenagers, which are today hysterically expanding, are because of the clamorous and derisive environment children are being subjected to. The environment in which they thrive and prosper is somehow the most pronounced cause of such misdemeanour. Reportedly, the type of personality one develops is often predetermined by the parenting, and upbringing one goes through in childhood. Secondly, the prospering technology and its directly proportional deleterious side effects, which includes unsupervised and disproportional exposure to provocative and misleading content. Some online games promote burglary, while some might cause one to have a belligerent attitude. Misleading television shows and graphical content percolates in the innocent and malleable mindsets of the children, thereby causing them to commit such serious actions.

A possible remedy to this starts right away from the way children are brought up. Being extra vigilant while they are around and cutting the unnecessary vulnerability of being influenced in the wrong helps children a great deal. Digital usage is understandably ineludible. However, in the supervision of a responsible adult and the perusal of them, the risks and perils of children being guided in a corrosive way are palliated to a much greater extent. Schools should alarmingly and intensively monitor the children who are being browbeaten by the hands of bullies, as surveys have often suggested that those are the children who are usually more susceptible to committing a crime.

Therefore, it could be summed up that though it is undoubtedly a problem to society as a whole, by proper monitoring, parenting, and supervision, juvenile misconduct could be largely contained and alleviated.

• Youth crime is rife: Youth crime is very common.
• Juvenile delinquency: act of crime committed by the young
• Defiance (n.): behaviour in which you refuse to obey others
• Aggression (n.): behaviour that is threatening or involves harm
• To be given free rein to develop: go uncontrolled.
• Desensitise (v.): cause people to experience emotion less strongly than before.
• Out of boredom: Because they are bored
• To produce extremely destructive effects: have bad results.
• Wrongful actions: Actions which are unfair and illegal
• To turn over a new leaf: To become another person.
• Rehabilitation (n.): the act of returning someone to a good condition, normal life.

Here are some related topics for you to practice:

• The problem of juvenile delinquency is increasing day by day. What are the reasons for this? Suggest a few solutions.
• It is often thought that the increase in juvenile crime can be attributed to violence in the media. What do you think is the reason for this phenomenon? Suggest some measures to combat this problem.
• In many countries, the age of criminals is getting lower. Provide reasons for this problem, along with solutions. Support your arguments with examples.

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Janice Thompson

Kasturika Samanta

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Posted on Apr 16, 2022

Today, the cases of juveniles committing crimes are dramatically rising. While there are many contributing factors that are responsible for this negative trend, several ways are put forward to resolve it . This essay will discuss both the cause of the increase in juvenile delinquency and the measures taken to deal with this problem. The young offenders are the ones whose upbringings are usually subjected to the deprivation of love, care and affection from the family, which is the most important cause of their misdemeanors. A teenager growing up in a family where parents argue on a regular basis or are too occupied with are obviously given less love and attention than others whose parents are happy and often spend time together. As a result, the parents can hardly take notice of their unusual behaviors such as aggression, quick-temper,..which are signs of being susceptible to committing crime. Another cause of this phenomenon is the growing development of the technology, making it possible for teengers to access to television programs, internet, social media in a short at ease. At such an impressionable age, they are indubitably vulnerable to the misleading and violence – oriented content in these flatforms. A fighting game, for instance, enables the player to revive a lot of times and use violence to solve everything, instilling in the youngsters that this case is morally acceptable. Finally, teengers also imitate their friends to engage in violent incidents to impress them and become stand out or to prove that they are fashionable and updated. The solutions to this issue are undoubtedly come from schools and family as well as the community. Firstly, the family plays an essential role in the development of the juvenile’s characteristics and their acknowledge. Therefore, it is necessary that they make a close observation to the young and befriend them. Moreover, the schools are responsible for educating them about the drawbacks of violence and raising their awareness of not using force to solve disagreements. When it pertains to community, each person should avoid unsuitable manners and create a healthy environment for the children to thrive and prosper. To conclude, the reasons for underge crimes stem from family, the advance in technology and friends. However, the problem can be dealt with the aid of schools, families in particular and the community in general.

Posted on Apr 18, 2022

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Psychology Discussion

• Essay on Juvenile Delinquency

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In this essay we will discuss about Juvenile Delinquency. After reading this essay you will learn about: 1. Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency 2. Meaning of Juvenile Delinquency 3. Incidence 4. Causes 5. Variables 6.  Treatment.

• Treatment of Juvenile Delinquency

Essay # 1. Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency:

Delinquency has always been considered as a social problem over and above the fact that it is a legal problem. It is also a psychological problem. Hence to avoid this social evil one has to tackle the complex problem of delinquency from the social psychological and to familial angles.

Although laws regarding Juvenile delinquencies have been formed long since, they are also being changed from time to time. Currently, in all the progressive and civilized countries of the world the laws with regard to the Juvenile delinquents have been changed.

Special courts are established with specially trained Magistrates for the trial of the delinquents. Today delinquency is being considered as a misbehaviour, a social nuisense than a crime. So, in every state the children’s Act (1944) required custody, control and punishment of young offenders.

It also provides for the establishment of reformatory schools for them. But the revised Bombay children’s Act of 1948 provided not only for custody and control but also for treatment and rehabilitation of young offenders.

Essay # 2. Meaning of Juvenile Delinquency:

Crime committed by children and adolescents under the age of 18 years, is called delinquency. The maximum age limit and also the meaning of delinquency varies from country to country. But it is always below 18 years of age which is the statutory age for delinquency.

In India any person between the age of 7 and 18 years, who violates the provisions of the children’s Acts, the IPC and the CPO will be considered as delinquent. Persons above this age are considered as criminals.

Juvenile delinquency is defined by the Pensylvania Juvenile Court Act as “A delinquent child is one who violated any laws of the common wealth ordinance of the city, a child who by reasons of being way ward or habitually disobedient is uncontrolled by his parents, guardian, custodian or legal representative, a child who is habitually trunt from school or home or child who habitually so deports himself is to injury or endanger the moral or health of himself or others”.

Delinquency in the view of the Coleman (1981) refers to “behaviour of youths under 18 years of age which is not acceptable to society and is generally regarded as calling for some kind of admonishment punishment or corrective actions”.

Delinquency includes all sorts of crimes committed by children. Starting from the business and use of illegal drugs and homicide murder, it may include various types of dangerous criminal offences.

Delinquency undoubtedly is a social evil. It is a socially unacceptable behaviour committed by boys and girls below the age of 18 years. Instead of giving these delinquents punishment, they are kept in Juvenile jail and correction homes where various corrective measures are taken to change their behaviour in the positive direction.

It is observed that crime and delinquency are increasing day by day with the increase in population and complexity of culture. As population increases the small societies become bigger ones and are found in the form of mass society.

In mass societies there is less scope for mutual interaction and face to face contact. The family bonds and community bonds thus become weak to weaker. Now a days no one knows or cares to know who is staying next door. Parents and children do not meet.

While motivation is derived from the Latin word “Movere” which means move, social motivation refers to those social factors and situations which influence the person to behave in a particular style in a society. To eat is a biogenic need, but what to eat and how to eat is influenced by social forces and social interaction.

One feels hungry, it is a biogenic need but how to satisfy these hunger need and where to ask for food is determined by socialization process.

A child who has gone to a neighbour’s house to play, feels hungry, but he has been taught not to ask for food from outsiders. He is taught only to ask for food at his own house. This is a case of biological motive being influenced by socialization process.

Most of our needs and motives, attitudes and aspirations regarding food, dress, style of living are determined by our cultural values and norms of the society. The process of socialization puts a strong stamp mark on the behaviour of an individual in the society.

Essay # 3 . Incidence of Juvenile Delinquency :

Coleman’s Study (1981) indicates that the rate of delinquency increased by 100 per cent within seven years i.e., between 1968-1975. Though, mainly boys are involved in delinquency, now a days it is found that girls are also actively engaged in this antisocial work.

During these 20 years delinquency has further increased. One may not believe, but it is true that almost half of the serious crimes in U.S.A. are committed by juveniles.

Common delinquent acts in females are sexual offences, small thefts, drug usage, running away from home etc. Among the males delinquents are more engaged in stealing, drug usage, robbery, aggravated assaults, sexual abuses etc. Particularly, now a days, the incidence of delinquency is increasing alarmingly in large metropolitan cities and this has become a matter of great concern for the public and country.

While evidences from some studies show that children from lower class families and those residing in slum areas are more engaged in delinquency, other studies do not support this view. In an important study, Heary and Gold (1973) found significant relationship between social status and delinquent behaviour.

In another significant study, it was noticed that the rate of delinquency in case of socially disadvantaged youths appears about equal for whites and non-whites.

Like any other country, as reports of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt, of India, shows, there is a steady rise in the percentage of delinquency in India. While it was 16,160 in 1961, it was, 40,666 in 1974. Thus, in 13 years the increase in the incidence of delinquency, as reports show, has the highest percentage of Juvenile crimes (24.8%).

Second place goes to M.P. (20.5%) and third place to Gujarat (10.9%). Kerala has an incidence rate of only 0.2%.

Essay # 4 . Causes of Delinquency :

In many under-developed and developing countries including many parts of india, criminal tendency of a person is looked upon as the results of evil deeds in the past life of the parents. this is undoubtedly a misconception and prejudice., in the other extreme of the case, when a child develops delinquency many believe that it is due to the fault actions, omissions and commissions of his parents during his childhood..

Delinquents lack ethical standards and emotional ties. They are very impulsive and indulge in acts at the spur of the moment. They are socially insensitive and lack guilt feeling. Delinquents, inspite of their socially unacceptable behaviours, created difficulties for the self as well as for others.

Considered as a learned behaviour, delinquency was found to be highly correlated with low life styles with lack of recreational facilities and lack of permanent residence.

Essay # 5. Variables of Juvenile Delinquency:

The variables of delinquency may broadly be divided into:

(A) Personality characteristics of individual factors

(B) General socio-cultural factors indulging family pattern and interaction, delinquent gang and subculture.

(A) Personality Characteristics/ Individual Factors:

No social factors alone-can contribute to the causation of delinquency though social and cultural factors contribute their share to delinquency. Personality characteristics and individual factors also contribute a lot to the causation of delinquency.

(i) Brain Damage:

As per the reports of Caputo and Mandell (1970), Kiestor (1974) in about one per cent of the delinquents brain damage leads to lower inhibitory controls and a tendency to show violent behaviour. The genetic theorists argue the presence of an extra ‘Y’ chromosome in delinquents.

(ii) Psychopathic Personality :

Large number of persistent delinquents have been found to possess the traits and characteristics of antisocial and psychopathic personalities. A number of studies conducted in UK and India using Eysenck’s personality inventory show delinquents to be more extroverts, more neurotic, more psychotic and to have more criminal tendencies than the control group.

They seem to be quite impulsive, callus, and socially insensitive, they do not have the feelings of sorrow, guilt and repentance. They are not able to establish suitable interpersonal relationship and they do not learn anything from experience in a constructive way.

The persistent delinquents also do not seem to have any reality control or inner conscience or morality. So, they indulge in whatever they wish, which give them pleasure and satisfy their ego with assessing its impact upon the society and their final consequence.

For example, they may steal a very little money actually they do not need or they may steal a scooter, a car or snatch a golden chain without any need or necessity.

Just to fulfil their aggressive and sadistic tendency they may drive their car to a small distance, break some parts of the car and leave it there. They just want to satisfy their destructive tendency, which gives them pleasure. Many psychopathic delinquents are found to cut the brand new cushions in theaters and movie halls.

This author has also observed many delinquents of 10-12 years age who are in the habit of breaking the electric bulb in every lamp post on the road without any reason, in the presence of other people in broad day light. They just did not care, use abusive language and again repeat their aggressive behaviour with more vigour.

Actually, the delinquents do not involve themselves in such nuisance for personal gain, but it really reflects their underlying resentment and hostility towards the outer world, the world for which they have no feeling of involvement or belongingness.

There are others who just move around in a gang aimlessly and get pleasure in eve teasing, in passing filthy remarks whenever a member of the fair sex passes by. Such people are really at the mercy of their uncontrolled, uninhibited impulses.

It would be interesting to note that currently the incidence of psychopathic personality in female delinquents has increased quite rapidly as reports suggest. Fine and Fishman (1968) conducted a study on 155 girls in a State Correctional Institution in Kentuky to know their general personality characteristics.

They found rebelliousness, inadequacy, impulsiveness, instability and immature characteristics commonly found in the psychopathic personality.

It was also found by Ganzer and Sarason (1973) that females more frequently come from personally and socially disorganised families than did males. The theories of both sheldon and Eysenck stress genetic aspects along with environmental aspects to explain delinquent behaviour.

(iii) Drug Abuse :

Quite a large number of delinquents particularly those who are engaged in theft, prostitution and physical assault are found to be addicted to drugs, like heroin, secobarbital and alcohol. Drug addicted females are usually engaged in stealing and prostitution.

(iv) Mental Retardation/Mental Deficiency :

Various studies have been conducted to find out the relationship between intelligence and delinquent behaviour to solve the controversy whether delinquency is environmental or genetic. Long ago, an Italian Scientist Lumbroso made certain empirical studies on crime, and held that criminals have defective physical structure and defective intelligence.

Therefore, various steps have been taken to measure the I.Q. of Juvenile delinquents to verify this view. The study conducted by Healy, Burt and others have demonstrated clearly that delinquents are not mental defectives.

But, nevertheless, the average intelligence of the delinquent group is lower than the average intelligence of the normal group. It is also found that compared to the normal children a larger proportion of mental defectives are found in the Juvenile group.

Various investigators have reported different percentage of average I.Q. for the delinquents, compared to the average I.Q. of the normal as 100. Healy and Bronner (1926) found it to be 90, Burt (1925) found it to be 85, Merril (1947) found it to be 92.5.

The above data of different investigators reveal that the average intelligence of delinquents happen to be lower than the average I.Q. of normals. These data also give clear signal that the Juvenile delinquents as a group, at large, are not mentally defective though they are below average.

However, a low intelligence and mental retardation among 5% of the delinquents may be accounted to delinquent behaviour. Such people have no foresight to the consequences and significance of their action.

That is why, they commit various impulsive behaviour, like small aggressive acts, petty stealing and various other sexual offences. Even more intelligent psychopaths and gangs exploit them and include them in their group. In some cases, mental retardation is associated with serious brain damage and leads to a combination of features of both the organic and the mentally retarded delinquents.

The above facts lead one to conclude that Juvenile delinquents differ from normal persons in degree and not in kind so far, as their I.Q. is concerned. Hence, Juvenile delinquents cannot be looked upon as a group of mental defectives.

Some other studies also show that below 70 I.Q. there are only about 3% of the children who are mental defectives in an unselected population of children. But in the delinquent groups there are 12 to 15 per cent mental defectives.

Thus, the number of mentally defective children among the delinquents is about 4-5 times larger than in a normal population says Kupuswamy. Uday Sankar (1958) conducted a study 011 the mental ability of the delinquents and found that the proportions of mentally defective children is very high among the 140 Juvenile delinquents he has studied. 27.4% of them are below 70 I.Q.

Merril made a comparative study of the average intelligence of the delinquents and non-delinquents. It was found that the average intelligence of juvenile delinquents from socially and economically handicapped group is low.

While those coming from higher socio economic groups was higher. The average intelligence of children from the non- delinquent, but lower groups is also low. Merril took a controlled group and an experimental group, each group with 300 boys and girls.

In the experimental group, the 300 boys and girls were delinquents while in the control group they were non-delinquents. The socio-economic status of both the groups were kept constant. Results showed that while the average I.Q. of the 300 delinquents children was 86.7, the average I.Q. of the 300 non-delinquent children was 89.3.

The results, thus, did not show any significant difference between the I.Q. of the controlled and the experimental group though there was some obtained difference. So, Merril held that it is not justified to assume that larger proportion of the delinquents have lower I.Q. However, it is possible that the higher I.Q. delinquents and criminal may utilize the lower I.Q. children for their criminal purpose and gang work.

In case, they are caught by the police, the intelligent juveniles escape while the less intelligent juveniles arc trapped. Such incidents are not rare in our society. The innocent ones are caught easily because of their lack of understanding and lack of capacity to solve the immediate problems facing them.

(v) Neurosis :

About 3 to 5 per cent of delinquent behaviour, seems to be directly associated with psychoneurotic disorders. Here, the delinquent act is mainly tinged with compulsive behaviour, such as stealing things which one actually does not need, or compelled to do.

He will not be stable and remain at peace unless he does these acts. This type of compulsive acts also lead to sexual deviant behaviour because of the sexual restrictions and beliefs that masturbation and other forms of overt sexual behaviour are very much undesirable and a sin.

(vi) Psychosis :

In a limited number of cases, i.e. about 3 to 5%, delinquent, behaviour is associated with psychotic disorders. In Bandurar’s opinion (1973) often this involves prolonged emotional and social withdrawal arising out of long standing frustration.

Then, there is an explosive outburst of violent behaviour like volcanic eruption. Here, the delinquent act is the function of terrible personality, maladjustment and disturbances rather than a consistent antisocial orientation.

(vii) Emotional Problems :

Delinquency as an antisocial personality is the function of certain pathological and ill developed social environment. Wrong handling and faulty upbringing of the child lead to several emotional problems in the child. Various observations, case histories and interviews have indicated that quite a high percentage of the delinquents displayed emotional disturbances.

Heally and Bronner found that 92% of the delinquents showed emotional disturbances. Feeling of inadequacy, inferiority etc. were frequently found in them. In about 50% of the group, they were persistently present.

The feeling of insecurity, rejection of the parents and other members of the family were next important factors causing delinquent behaviour. About 33% of the group experienced strong feeling of being thwarted. Disharmony and problems of discipline were found in one third of the delinquents.

Quite a number of them also expressed sibling rivalry and jealousy. All these data lead to show that various emotional problems like insecurity, inferiority, jealousy, feeling of being neglected and let down were very common among the delinquent children.

The need for recognition and resentment against the sense of insecurity provides enough scope for a person to be delinquent. Rebellious feeling in oneself makes one antisocial and delinquent.

Because of these emotional problems which are created by dehumanised social conditions the person becomes a delinquent and tries to take action, against others. It is a fact that by their antisocial, sadistic and aggressive action they try to get pleasure and mental satisfaction.

Because of their emotional problems, they should be considered as maladjusted personalities and not as peculiar human beings, who differ from other human beings not in degree but in kind. They should not be considered as abnormal human beings.

Their needs and desires are very much normal, but they have become so because of faulty family upbringing. They become hostile and aggressive because they feel threatened and insecured.

According to Friedlander, delinquent character is the result of three factors:

(i) The strength of the unmodified instinctive urges,

(ii) The weaknesses of the ego and

(iii) The lack of independence and strength of the super ego. He is not able to control his impulsive needs. In his case neither realistic considerations, nor moral considerations operate to check his impulsive actions. Stott (1950) holds that delinquent breaks down is an escape from emotional situation which for the particular individual with the various conditioning of his background becomes almost temporarily invariable.

(viii) Faulty Discipline and Child Rearing Practice :

When the parents or one of them use rigid discipline, it increases hostility in the child. Why? Because of rigid discipline all his wishes and desires are suppressed and restrained. This leads to the development of an antisocial, rebellious and hostile personality in the growing child.

By constant suppression of desires the child never feels free and clear. Conflicting views of parents and teachers regarding discipline also contribute.

If the child rearing practices are faulty and are based on rigid, dictatorial principles, if the child is always left to cry and cry, if the child is not handled with due love and affection, if the discipline is harsh, inconsistent and irrational, his suppressed and repressed aggression is vented through anti-social and delinquent behaviour.

Prolonged parental deprivation particularly at the early age of life, between 1-5 years is extremely adverse for the normal personality development of the child. The affectionless and loveless life due to proper parenting and judicious child rearing practices lead to several maladjustments and in some cases juvenile delinquency.

Bowlby (1946) compared 44 children who committed various thefts and hence were kept in the London child Guidance Clinic for treatment with 44 normal children of the same age and Socio-economic status, who came to the clinic for treatment but who did not steal.

Results showed that 17 of the 44 thief’s had suffered from prolonged separation from their mothers. But in the control group only 02 were separated from their mothers.

Of course, the question why the remaining 27 thief’s of the experimental group inspite of being with their mother took recourse to thefts has not been explained by this factor. But there are other factors besides parental deprivation which influence the development of delinquency.

Stott is of opinion that security, affection, love and proper attention from the parents are basically required for the proper growth of personality of the child. Those children who do not get this from their parents become susceptible to delinquency.

By becoming delinquents they try to get attention from their parents. Further they with an attitude of revolt try to teach their parents a lesson. Some also become vindictive and develop antisocial, reactionary, negative behaviour. They get sadistic satisfaction by giving pain to their parents and causing them worry. They get pleasure by seeing them suffering.

Lower socio-economic status parents usually remain absent from home for earning their bread. Both the father and mother work from morning to evening outside. So the child is deprived from parental care and is neglected.

They also cannot provide a baby sister to take care of the baby because of their poverty. Since the parents of low S.E.S. are not properly educated and properly trained, they cannot take proper care of their children. To add to this the school going children do not get scope for going to good school for their educational and social development. All these factors either separately or in combination pave the way for delinquency.

(ix) Broken Homes :

Studies show that children coming from broken homes, where parents are separated or divorced, lead to delinquent behaviour, than those children coining from broken homes where the home is broken by the death of the parents or one of the parents. In Western countries, where separation and divorce of parents are more common, this is a major cause of delinquency.

But in India, though currently separation and divorce cases are increasing day by day, they are not so rampant like their Western counterparts and hence, is not a major cause of delinquency.

In a study of institutionalized delinquents in the State of Colorado, Barker and Adams (1962) found that only about one-third of the boys and girls come from complete home setting, i.e. where they live with both their original parents. British and American Investigations reveal that nearly 50 per cent of the delinquents come from broken homes.

(x) Socio-pathic Parental Models :

Glueck and Glueck (1969), Ulmar (1971) and Bandura (1973) have found high presence of socio- pathic traits in the parents of the delinquents. Socio-pathic traits include alcoholism, brutality, anti­social attitudes, failure to provide unnecessary frequent absences from home, lack of communication with the child etc. All these traits make the father an inadequate and unacceptable model for the child.

According to Scharfman and Clark (1967) the chief variables of the delinquent behaviour of girls were:

(a) Broken homes combined with emotional deprivation,

(b) Irrational, harsh and inconsistent parental discipline,

(c) Patterns of only aggressive and sexual behaviour modelled by psychopathic parents.

(xi) Parental Absenteeism :

In studies on juvenile delinquency, Martin (1961) and others have emphasized the feeling of unrelatedness and detachment from the family and society as a key cause of delinquency. Communication gap with one or both parents leads to the failure to learn appropriate social values. This finally leads to a tendency to act out inner tension in hostile and destructive manner.

The question is why this feeling of unrelatedness or insecurity arises in young people who differ vastly in age I.Q., personality make up and socio-economic standard. A key source of this feeling appears to be parental absenteeism.

When parents are too much absorbed in their own occupations and activities and do not provide the youth optimum attention, necessary support and encouragement during the crisis period of the growing age, they turn to peers and others as models who might be lacking the qualities of ideal models for the child.

(xii) Mother Dominance :

When the father is mostly busy with his own work and commitments or in other works, and if he plays a submissive role in the family, the mother takes over the function of providing affection and discipline of the boy.

In certain cases, it is found that by nature the mother because of her aggressive personality pattern or earning capacity plays a dominant role compared to the father. When the child grows up with a mother dominance atmosphere in the family, he starts identifying with the mother and greatly depends upon him as a role model.

With this type of attitude when he reaches adolscence, it becomes difficult for the boy to develop a masculine self concept. Thus, now he tries to express his masculanity, independence courage and finally the so called male ego in rebellious and proving offences. By being engaged in such anti-social acts, he gets the satisfaction that he is really masculine.

(xiii) Father Rejection :

Andry, on the basis of the findings of his studies, concluded that the delinquent boys felt rejected by their fathers but loved by their mothers. Non-delinquent boys on the other hand felt to be equally loved and cared by both the parents. A child who is rejected by his parents day in and day out, develops, naturally, an inner feeling of hostility towards him.

The gap in communication and lack of understanding between the father and the child paves the way for anti-social behaviour in the form of anguish, aggression and hostility. When he finds that a large part of his world is unable to deal with him properly, he in turn does not like to understand the world either.

This hostility is transformed in the form of anti-social and delinquent behaviour. He, infact, lacks normal inner controls. He does not have the basic values of life. So, he tends to act out his aggressive impulses.

(xiv) Undesirable Peer Relationship :

Delinquency is said to be a gang experience. In support of this view, Haney and Gold (1973) found that about 66 per cent of the delinquent behaviours are committed in association with other persons. Usually it is a homogenious group so far, as sex is concerned. But in selected cases, as found now a days girls and boys also form gangs and delinquent groups.

(B) General Socio-Cultural Factors:

(i) Alienation and Rebellion :

Many ego psychologists view that the modern youth is only a bundle of confusions as far as his values of life is concerned. Most surprisingly, it is common in youths coming from all socio-economic levels. There is a communication gap and a generation gap.

They do not accept the values of their parents or grandparents and they are even confused of their so called own values and sense of identity. There is also identity crisis in many of them. Thus, in short, they are all in a mess.

They do not know what to accept and what to reject. They always experience a feeling of alienation from family as well as society. This lack of identification and development of clear values turn them to the outer world to peers gangs and friends for guidance and approval. They may take drugs and engage in illegal anti­social activities like thefts, pick pockets, violences etc.

There are innumerable instances where many modern youths who run away from home as a sort of reaction to their rebellious feeling, tend to join gangs indulged in delinquent behaviour, prostitution etc. In the same manner, socially disadvantaged youths, such as belonging to lower income groups, lower caste groups and having very little education, having lower status in the society may turn to delinquency also.

(ii) The Social Rejects :

With the increase in urbanization and industrialization, family ties grow weaker. Joint family systems are gradually disintegrating. People prefer to have their own family of husband and wife and children.

With the formation of mass society, influence of technology on society and erosion of values, social disintegration is increasing day by day. Joint family system has now become a dream. Tolerance and sense of sacrifice and feeling of cooperation is decreasing day by day.

Divorce and remarriage are quite common in the Western countries and urban areas. Though some decades back in India the public opinion was very strong against divorce and remarriage, now it has changed to some extent with the increase in industrialization and urbanization.

The effect of social disintegration, erosion of values, lack of sense of social sacrifice and commitment for the society may make many children social rejects. Young boys and girls who lack the motivation to do well in school because of various familial and social factors and become drop outs who are social isolates as soon as they can.

Normally, they do not qualify for any job. Irrespective of class, sex social status and wealth, they generally feel useless and unneeded by the society. This lack of hope, feeling of uselessness and that they are rejected by the society, lead them to show undesirable anti-social behaviour.

Many of them remain unemployed. Those who somehow get some employment are funnily unable to hold the job, and so, they shift from job to job, engage in delinquent behaviour, partly as a result of frustration and partly due to confusion and hopelessness.

(iii) Delinquent Gang Subculture :

This includes the rebellion with the norms of the society. If a person is rejected by the society, his inner tension is often revealed in serious delinquent acts beating and fighting leading to serious physical injury.

As Jenkins has put it, the socialized delinquents represent not a failure of socialization but a limitation of loyalty to a more or less pedatory peer group. The basic capacities for social relationship has been achieved. What is lacking in an effective integration with the larger society as a contributing member.

(iv) Gangs and Companions :

In addition to other important causes of delinquency, those who feel inadequate and rejected by the group and society join gangs, peer groups and companions and indulge in anti-social activities. As a child grows, he mixes with the members of the neighbourhood and always becomes an important member of their play group. The norms set up for the child at home may not be similar to the norms set up by the play groups.

Because of such differences there may be conflict of values, ideas and norms. Even in the school these norms may be different. He has to conform and adjust with one set of norms at home and another set of norms in the play group and another in the school.

Various studies indicate that secondary groups, like neighbourhood, playmates, peers and school, and others in the society which the child comes in contact more often than not all have tremendous effects on the personality of the child. All these agents of socialization play important role in the process of socialization of the growing child.

Overcrowding of cities, lack of space at home, residence at slum areas, location of various shops and business centres in various residential areas of the city, environmental pollution create a lot of social problems. Such problems have an adverse effect on the social development of the child. Children of such areas do not have a park to play, do not have many recreational facilities.

Some of these children of the slum areas invade the industrial belts nearby for some occasional job and are sometimes thrown out because of their inefficiency. Being frustrated and finding no way out, they mix with other children of the similar category and form gangs. Street corner gangs have tremendous contribution to Juvenile delinquency.

Initially, the gang starts as a play group. In the absence of play ground facility, the children start playing in the streets and eventually organise themselves in to gangs. Various groups of the same or nearby area then start fighting.

Very recently one incident occurred in my residential colony. There is one ‘paan’ (bettle) shop in front of my house. Two days before the last Ganesh Puja when I reached home from market, I found that the two boys of the paan shop along with some outside teenagers are constructing a pendal adjacent to the paan shop.

On enquiry, my orderly peon told me that these boys belong to another nearby colony and they are going to celebrate Ganesh Puja here. They decorated the pendal and also started playing film songs using a mike two days before the Puja.

We were very much disturbed by these unnecessary loud sounds. But nobody dared to object with the apprehension of being misbehaved and malhandled by them. On the night prior to the Puja day this gang of 10 to 12 boys prepared a feast near the pendal and ate to their heart’s content.

At about 2 A.M. we heard loud noise of fighting and shouting in front of our house. We got up from sleep and saw that two gangs are fighting with each other. Some of them broke the image of Ganesh and broke the mike.

Consequently one members of a gang fell down on the ground with severe blows and head injury. After this incident immediately the culprits lied from the spot leaving the injured boy there. After ten minutes two persons came and took away the injured boy in a rickshaw.

After 3-4 minutes Police came to the spot and after necessary enquiry booked the culprits. Members of both the gangs were kept under the custody of the Police for the whole day.

Alas! the Puja could not be performed in time. Why the two gangs fought? Gang No. 1 did not want gang No.2 to celebrate a separate Ganesh Puja. Gang No. 1 wanted Gang No. 2 to contribute to their Puja. So there was conflict and quarrel between the two gangs.

Numerous such quarrels, violence’s and conflicts occur every day between the street corner and Zhopodi gangs. Some members of these gangs are involved in petty theft and anti-social behaviour. They are famous for creating social nuisense.

Why a person becomes a member of a gang? Gang membership provides them a sense of status and approval and a sense of belongingness which they did not get from their family and other social agents. In a gang, the responsibility or blame of threat is not shouldered by any individual member, but by the gang as a whole just like in a mob.

Thus, some prefer to steal or booze and do other illegal acts in the name of gang. Studies have indicated that the groups outside the home have a tremendous impact on the personality of the adolescent. The gang starts as a play group.

In the absence of play ground facility, the children start playing in the streets and eventually form a gang and the behaviour of the person is mostly influenced by the gang and so he develops delinquent tendencies.

Though the gang has all the qualities of an in group like cooperation, unity, fellow feeling and belongingness, it is also associated with crimes, like stealing, eveteasing, rioting, homicide, rape, murder, boozing, taking various drugs and abusing them, dacoity, assault and murders etc.

Thus, they form a racket and in an organised way they create terror in the area. Studies have indicated that these children are roughly between 10-16 years age. They also come from poor families with constant friction between parents and family members. Those children who usually become the members of the gang have often little or no parental guidance.

Studies also indicate that delinquency is committed in groups and in companies. Shaw analysed 6,000 cases of crime and observed that in 72 per cent of the cases two or more companions were involved.

Healy reported that companionship was a single factor causing delinquency in 34 per cent of the cases while Burt gives the figure at 18 per cent. Uday Sankar gives the figure at 23 per cent. Sometimes parents are seen complaining that their child became a delinquent by mixing in bad company.

But bad companionship is not the only cause of delinquency unless there are some defects in the character formation of the individual. However, bad companionship is never the less an important factor which lead to delinquency, since delinquency is also a learnt behaviour.

In a gang or a restricted group the influence of social norm is there, sense of responsibility is divided and a boy feels that cinema and various electronic medias, like TV, Video films of violent and sexual nature lead children to delinquency by being helped through various techniques of delinquency shown in the screen.

However, it is quite reasonable to assume that early childhood training and parental attitude, how the child is reared up, all these have tremendous impact in deciding delinquent behaviour. These predisposing characters are precipitated in a gang thus leading to delinquency.

Recently female delinquents have also formed their gangs with a purpose to protect and defy themselves. They find a sense of acceptance, belongingness and give and take, sympathy, understanding, companionships, loyalty, power and authority which they do not find in a socialized world which they consider to be an out group.

(v) Poverty :

Ample evidences are there to hold that a large percentage of the delinquent children come from poor homes. It is found that even 50 per cent of the delinquents come from lower strata of the society with very poor economic background and hand to mouth living standard. Glueck’s (1934) study revealed that only 28.8% of the children came from comfortable homes with good economic status of parents.

Those who are disadvantaged and under privileged due to their poverty had to take recourse to some anti-social action for their living also.

Hence, keeping all other factors constant, a child coming from a comfortable home has relatively less chance for becoming a delinquent than a child coming from a poor under privileged family, Glueck’s study also showed that 37% of the fathers of delinquent children were skilled labourers while 23% were semi-skilled labourers and 40% were unskilled labourers.

Findings of his study showed that not a single parent of the delinquent children came from the clerical services. Glueck’s study, thus, brings the fact to light that the nature of job of parents is also an important determinant of delinquency.

Of course, Glueck’s study was conducted about sixty four years back and much changes have taken place during these six to seven decades. Children of some well to do highly educated parents doing very good jobs in government and non-govt.

Offices also, now a days, are engaged in delinquency and the percentage is growing up day by day. But compared to their lower SES counterparts the percentage is very low. According to Uday Sankar’s Study 83% of the Juvenile delinquents came from poor homes, 13% from border line (neither poor nor rich) homes and only 4% came from comfortable homes.

But poverty cannot be the role cause of delinquency. Had it been so, in India where poverty is found in most homes, the number of delinquents would have been more than the rich and better off countries which is not a fact. In India the percentage of Juvenile delinquency is very low and most people are peace loving and disciplined unlike other developed and developing countries.

A study conducted by the Ministry of Education (1952) Govt, of India indicates that 32,400 children were awarded sentences for delinquency in 1949. But in 1950 it was noticed that 40,119 children of all the states of India except U.P. were put up for trial in the Juvenile courts. But besides these recorded cases, there might have been some unrecorded cases also.

Poor parents have to leave their children and go for work. Thus, the mother is not available to take proper care of the child. They are neglected and the child becomes wayward. Children from poor homes also do not get scope for education as they have to supplement the earning of their parents. Poverty is, therefore, a contributing cause of delinquency, although it is not the sole cause.

(vi) Stress :

Serious traumatic experiences may lead one to become a delinquent. Clark (1961) found that one- third of the cases studied by him were found to be suffering from trauma. These traumatic experiences may range from death of parents, children husband or wife, broken homes, disorganised families etc.

Burks and Harrison (1962) have also stressed the function of stresses which directly threaten the adolescent feeling of inadequacy and worth as precipitating events in some cases of aggressive antisocial behaviour. Finkelstein (1968) holds that accumulation of emotional tensions also lead to a final outbreak the form of delinquency.

(vii) Delinquent Areas :

Studies of Burt in England indicates that there are certain localities from which majority of delinquent children come. In these areas, there are poor housing overcrowding and lack of recreational facilities. Most delinquents also come from the areas where cinema houses and hotels are located.

Burt found a high correlation of 77 between delinquency and density of population. Shaw in a similar study found that the majority of the Juvenile delinquents came from the centres of Chicago and the number of juveniles decreased from centre to periphery. But this is not applicable to all children staying in the crowded localities.

Essay # 6 . Treatment of Juvenile Delinquency :

What is a crime after all? An act which is a crime in one society may not be a crime in another society as crimes are acts which violate the rights of a person or property as envisaged by law or tradition. But never the less certain acts are considered as criminal in every society like murders, theft etc.

Inspite of the cultural variations in different parts of the world, criminals are always punished by the society or law, although the degree of punishment may vary from society to society. Many in the society believe that punishment should be exemplary so that others will not dare to commit it.

This purpose of giving punishment to the culprit in a major way is to prevent criminal acts. But the question arises whether Juvenile delinquents who are below 18 years of age should be punished like the convicts and criminals or not.

Rehabilitation of delinquents has been a great social issue. Delinquency is an anti-social behaviour and it creates unrest and indiscipline in the society. It makes social life hazardous and dangerous. It also affects the peace and prosperity of the nation. It is, therefore, imperative that the readjustment problem of delinquents should be dealt very sincerely and effectively.

Many people in the society feel that Juvenile delinquents should be given severe punishment so that not only they, but others will not dare to repeat such illegal, anti-social action in future. But sociologists and psychologists strongly hold that since Juvenile delinquency refers to the cases of young minds and children at their tender age, one has to deal with such cases very cautiously and carefully.

Juvenile delinquency being a social disease the child or the adolscent has to be treated in such a manner, so that he can readjust with the society. His maladjustment with the society has to be changed.

Since delinquency is mainly caused in the society under social conditions mostly because his basic needs are not fulfilled, efforts should be made first to fulfil the basic needs of every child in a socially approved manner whether delinquent or non-delinquent and extra care should be taken of the delinquent child.

Each delinquent child tries to fulfil his needs in an anti-social manner. But it would be the job of the social reformers and psychologists dealing with the care of the delinquents, to fulfil their needs in a socially accepted manner according to the norms of the society and legal sanctions.

Further, each delinquent has to be considered individually focussing attention on the fulfillment of his needs for power, prestige and recognition. Each individual case of delinquency has to be studied separately keeping in view his specific problems. Then only, it will be possible to rehabilitate, recondition and readjust the individual in the society.

In recent years there has not only been any transformation in the past attitude of the society and social thinkers towards delinquency there has also been change in law with regard to Juvenile delinquency. The outlook is now more progressive and dynamic. Special courts have been established with specially trained Magistrates to handle the cases of delinquents.

They are also sheltered in special homes instead of jails and special care is taken so that they can be rehabilitated in the society. Remand homes are established by law to which the young offenders are sent. Trained social workers are also engaged to study each case. For each case a separate file is built up with the detailed case history, type of crime committed and further improvement in behaviour.

Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists are also engaged in many remand homes to reform these anti-socials. Instead of giving physical punishment to the offenders, constant efforts are made to bring change in their outlook and attitude towards society, towards themselves. In short, the aim of everyone involved is to rehabilitate the individual in the society as a normal individual.

Special schools are also established otherwise known as ‘Reformatory Schools’ with specially trained teachers to help the delinquents to overcome the deficiencies in their socialization and develop the right kind of attitude towards themselves. The teachers of such schools gradually try to become substituted parents and help the children in generating a sense of security, self confidence, right attitude towards society.

They are given various craft and other vocational training to earn their livelihood, once they are rehabilitated in the society. The schools also develop a number of group activities to change the ego and super ego of these children.

In Western countries delinquents in small groups are brought up in residential areas and given individual treatment, to have in them a feeling that they are part and parcel of the society. Thus, they are removed from the aversive environment and allowed to learn about the world of which they are a member.

If required, they are given individual therapy, group therapy and psychological counselling. Here, their behaviour is resocialized by the help of group pressure. Counselling with the parents in the rehabilitation centre is also of great help for the rehabilitation of the Juvenile delinquents.

Institutionalization may not be quite successful in case of Juvenile offenders, i.e. youths whose offenses have involved acts that world not be considered criminal, if committed by an adult such as running away from home or engaging in sexual relations. If such types of delinquents are kept with those who have committed serious crimes, they would in turn learn these from them.

It may, therefore, aggravate their behavioural problems instead of correcting them. The teachers of reformatory schools should also keep in mind to act as substitutes of good, warm and understanding parents and help the children to generate a sense of security and involvement. They should give up the idea that their life is meaningless and their birth is useless.

The school also should make efforts to develop a number of group activities in debate, sports, various social functions, picnics, exhibitions and study tours to change the ego of the delinquent child, to create a feeling of togetherness, belongingness, we feeling, sense of sacrifice and cooperation along with healthy competition.

Positive human values like honesty, sociability, amiability, truthfulness etc. are to be developed through teaching and action. One has to remember that changes are to be made from negative to positive outlooks and values of life.

Parents have also tremendous role to play in the rehabilitation of their delinquent children. They, therefore, must be helped to develop insight to their own behaviour and analyse their own behaviour which might have led to the maladjustment in the child.

They should, therefore, try to rectify their own behaviour so that in future there is no problem from the side of parents when the child returns from the reformatory home to be rehabilitated in the society. Since a lot depends upon parental behaviour and attitude, they should be very cautious.

Finally, the society and public should also change their outlook and attitude towards delinquency in general. They should not hate or distrust the delinquents. The delinquents must be dealt with sympathy, understanding and good behaviour.

They should not be hurt emotionally. Society as a whole should give up its fear and hostility towards the delinquents and anti-socials. It should develop a flexible attitude so that proper analysis of the causes of delinquency is made and adequate steps are taken both with respect to the prevention and treatment of delinquency.

Mentally retarded children should be specially and cautiously, dealt with parents and teachers. Otherwise, they may become susceptible to delinquency. They should be handled with proper care and should be taught in such a way so that their attention can be sustained.

The psychopathic and neurotic children should be given the opportunities of necessary therapeutic measures and prevent the development of delinquent behaviour.

All kinds of delinquents should not be treated identically, in a group or and should not be given similar rehabilitation facilities. For this purpose, differential diagnosis of the delinquents is essentially required. This can be possible by the, services of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists.

Increase of population without proportionate increase of space and other living conditions is one of the major causes of rise in delinquency. Particularly people migrate to cities from villages and the cities, semi-urban and urban areas for earning their livelihood.

So they are overcrowded. Various difficulties crop up and so problems of socialization are also experienced. Slum areas in cities create more problems leading to the growth of anti-social feelings in children.

Therefore, vast programmes are now being undertaken to clear the slum areas and for providing educational and recreational facilities for the slum children like parks, gardens, play grounds, doll house. As a result, the children need not play in street corners and constitute consciously or unconsciously street corner gangs.

Large amount of money are being spent in Western countries to rehabilitate the delinquents through various remedial measures. Various steps are also being taken at different quarters to prevent the rise of delinquents. But since delinquency is a very complex problem being caused by multifarious factors, it is difficult, though not impossible, to control it and prevent it.

Inspite of the various rehabilitation programmes developed by different countries of the world, they do not appear to be sufficient to reduce the percentage of delinquency from the society or prevent it significantly.

The inadequacies of the correctional system are being changed as and when necessary. Effective rehabilitation programmes, long range programmes to prevent delinquency should also be prepared to combat the rise of delinquency in the society.

This can be made possible by improving the conditions of the slum areas, providing suitable educational facilities for children staying in slum areas, near railway station, bus stand, market etc.

Along with this minimum education, vocational training and training in different trades should also be provided. By being engaged in work and earning some money during the training period, they can be normalized and can also adjust with the main stream.

The manual training will not only encourage their creative abilities, but also would give them satisfaction. When a child or an adolscent produces a bag or a basket, a toy in mud or a painting he gets immense satisfaction. This sense of achievement produces in him a sense of security and confidence, a sense of adequateness.

Orphanage and destitute homes are not sufficient to rehabilitate the juvenile delinquents in view of their increasing numbers during the recent years. Hence, these along with recreational centres should be increased.

In the school the teacher should show sympathetic treatment to the Juveniles. They should not hate them. Their approach should be different from what they show to the normal children and each Juvenile delinquent should be given individual attention. Mentally handicapped and retarded children should not be ridiculed by class mates and peers. The teacher should give special attention to this.

The rehabilitation programmes are not enough keeping in view the rapid growth of Juvenile delinquency in the entire world. The inadequacies of the correctional system are being changed. Besides effective rehabilitation programmes, long range programmes to prevent delinquency should be prepared.

This can be made possible by improving the conditions of the slum areas, provision for suitable educational and recreational facilities, education of parents disciplined and organised society with role relationship defined, development of proper ego identity and etc.

Odell (1974) has developed a programme that combined educational development and job placement facilitating entry in to the opportunity structure more effective than traditional case work methods in preventing Juvenile recidivision. Finally, it can be said that the emphasis should be more on rehabilitation than punishment.

Juvenile delinquency cannot be curbed fully from the society. No society can ever completely prevent or eliminate crime, practically speaking. However, delinquency and crime can be reduced social scientists and psychologists can plan to reduce delinquency and crime.

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Question and Answer forum for K12 Students

Juvenile Delinquency Essay | Essay on Juvenile Delinquency for Students and Children in English

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.

Long and Short Essays On Juvenile Delinquency for Kids and Students in English

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.

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. 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.

Short Essay on Juvenile Delinquency 200 Words in English

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.

11 Lines to Remember Essay on Juvenile Delinquency

• Exempted – to free from an obligation or liability to which others are subject
• Vagrancy – a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging
• Truancy – the action of staying away from school without good reason; absenteeism
• Psychotic – mentally unstable; intensely upset, anxious, or angry
• Neurotic – abnormally sensitive, obsessive, or anxious; disturbed; irrational
• Echo – a sound heard again and again, any repetition of the ideas or opinions
• Burglary -theft, robbery, illegal entry of a building with intent to commit a crime
• Propelled – drive or push something forward, to urge onward
• Bogus – false, fake, not genuine
• Swindling – to obtain money by fraud, to cheat for money
• Deterrent – a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something

Minnesota Law

Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice Clinic Students Testify to Reform Minnesota's Juvenile Sentencing Laws

Since 2013, students in the Law School's  Child Advocacy & Juvenile Justice Clinic  and  Professor Perry Moriearty  have worked to reform Minnesota's Heinous Crimes Act, which became unconstitutional in 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court banned the mandatory imposition of life in prison without parole for children. Over the course of a decade, the Clinic drafted multiple bills, met with legislators, convened stakeholders, partnered with national advocates, and prepared and delivered testimony to committees of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives. In May 2023, the legislature amended  Minn. Stat. 244.05 , making Minnesota the 28th state in the country to abolish life without parole for children. The new law makes anyone incarcerated as a juvenile eligible for release after serving 15 years (unless they are serving multiple sentences for offenses involving more than one victim) and has already had an impact on dozens of people who thought they would spend their lives in prison.

On March 22, 2024, clinic student  Kate Riggers '25  testified before the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee in support of additional amendments to the 2023 law. The testimony was the culmination of a semester of work by clinic students, including  Riggers ,  Christian Purnell '24 ,  Shannon Kuster '25 ,  Madeson Martin '25 ,  Lucy Moran '25 ,  Rachel Pederson '25 , and  Kyle Rounds '25.

Watch the Testimony

Kate Riggers '25, Rachel Pederson '25, and Professor Perry Moriearty in front of the Minnesota State Capitol.

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An Elementary School Tries a ‘Radical’ Idea: Staying Open 12 Hours a Day

A Brooklyn charter school is experimenting with a new way to help families by expanding the school day. Students can arrive at 7 a.m. and leave any time before 7 p.m. For free.

The longer hours have helped the school boost its enrollment. Credit... Dave Sanders for The New York Times

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By Troy Closson

• April 9, 2024

It sounds like a dream for some working parents: school for 12 hours a day, starting bright and early at 7 a.m. and ending after dinner, at 7 p.m., all completely free.

One elementary school, Brooklyn Charter School, is experimenting with the idea as a way to tackle two problems at once. The first is a sharp decline in students in urban schools. Families are leaving city public schools around the country, including in New York City, which has led some districts to consider merging schools or even closing them .

The second is the logistical nightmare many parents face as they try to juggle jobs and child care.

Millions of families scramble to fill the gap between school dismissal, around 3 p.m., and the end of the work day, several hours later. Many never escape long waiting lists for after-school programs. Others simply cannot afford to sign up. Lower-income parents often have the hardest time finding high-quality care.

These obstacles — along with high rents and costs of living — are driving families away from the city. Brooklyn Charter School is in Bedford-Stuyvesant, a rapidly changing neighborhood where Black families have departed in droves . The school, where Black students make up three-fourths of enrollment, lost nearly 30 percent of its students during the coronavirus pandemic, shrinking from more than 230 children to fewer than 165.

“We thought, ‘We have to do something radical,’” the principal, Joanne Hunt, said. “School hours aren’t made for working people.”

So far, the idea of staying open 12 hours a day seems to be working. About 80 students have signed up for the longer hours, and the school’s enrollment is now close to 200. It is a sign that in an expensive city, the most important school amenity for some parents might not be a state-of-the-art science lab or a media studio, but affordable child care.

“We love it,” Ayanna Souza said as she picked up her 10-year-old daughter, Jada Lee, on a recent evening. “Before this,” she said, “I was struggling.”

While many of the students in the program do not stay at school for the full 12 hours, staff members acknowledge that it can be a long time for children to be away from home — which may be hard on them and on their families . But long days are a common experience in a city where many parents work long hours to get by, and where commutes can tack on hours to the workday.

Research shows that after-school programs, especially high-quality ones, can help improve a child’s attendance, academics and other measures of well-being, including mental health .

But as the city grapples with budget constraints, hopes have dimmed that the number of after-school seats can be expanded, and some programs have even been cut. Charters often receive funding and grants from outside groups, which can allow them to offer programs that some district schools cannot afford.

Brooklyn Charter used to open its doors at 7:30 a.m. Now, a few dozen students arrive half an hour earlier. They read books and tell stories in an auditorium under the watchful eye of a social worker.

From 8:30 to 4 p.m., school goes on as normal. On a recent Tuesday, there were blocks of math practice, mock English exams and a book fair. When the formal school day ended, the fun began for the seven dozen students who stay late under the care of counselors.

First up: a meal. Angela Alegria, who works in the school’s kitchen, pulled fries out the oven to go with fish sandwiches. The chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks are the favorite, though, according to a group of 6-year-old friends, Aaron, Ashton and Mia.

After dinner that evening, a boisterous comedy session began. Students drum-rolled on tables as their friends took the stage — a large crate in the center of the cafeteria — to crack jokes. One young girl stole the show, asking, “Why did the cow go to the theater?”

She paused, before bringing down the house: “Because he wanted to watch a moooooovie.”

Then the students split up for a series of activities.

Room 320 broke into booms and bangs as older students practiced the drums. An instructor quizzed them about quarter notes and helped them identify low- and high-pitched sounds.

“Hands in places!” the instructor said, later asking one boy who was tipping his instrument back and forth, “How do we hold our drum, sir?”

Across the hall, kindergartners counted on their fingers to complete their math homework. “I did it!” one student yelled out after solving a particularly tough problem.

And in another room, first graders grabbed card stock and markers to design robots to look like Sonic the Hedgehog and Disney princesses. When it was time for the groups to rotate sessions, one girl shouted out something unthinkable.

“Homework time,” she said. “Yay!”

In New York, fewer than half of public schools offer free, city-funded services after school. In addition to boosting academic achievement, these can help keep students out of trouble: Most juvenile crime occurs in the hours around dismissal. But most of those programs end at 6 p.m., if not earlier.

The dearth of choices is gaining political attention. The State Senate recently said it wants to explore options for universal after-school programming. One Democratic lawmaker and potential mayoral candidate, Zellnor Myrie, has argued that such an initiative could be a “game changer” for families.

At Brooklyn Charter, many families just wanted better child care. “There was a huge need in our community,” said Roger Redhead, who runs the program.

Throughout the evening, parents trickled in after work. Princess Williams, whose son Adonis often stays for about two hours after dismissal, said the program had made her family’s life much easier. “It’s just beautiful,” she said.

By 6:30 p.m., only about five students were left.

They entertained themselves with intense tic-tac-toe matches at a cafeteria table. Some wanted to stay even later and keep playing when their family members arrived.

The parents reminded their children: You’ll see your friends again — in 12 hours!

Troy Closson reports on K-12 schools in New York City for The Times. More about Troy Closson

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