Posted: January 19th, 2024

What Is Juvenile Delinquency?

What Is Juvenile Delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency is a term that refers to the violation of a law by a person who is below the age of adulthood. Juvenile delinquents are often involved in crimes such as theft, vandalism, substance abuse, gang membership, and violence. Juvenile delinquency is a serious problem that affects not only the individuals involved, but also their families, communities, and society at large.

Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

There is no single cause of juvenile delinquency, but rather a combination of factors that influence the behavior of young people. Some of these factors are:

– Family situation: The quality of the relationship between parents and children, the presence or absence of parental supervision and guidance, the exposure to domestic violence or abuse, and the economic and social status of the family can affect the development and well-being of children. Children who come from broken homes, who experience neglect or maltreatment, who lack parental support and discipline, or who live in poverty are more likely to engage in delinquent acts than those who have stable and nurturing family environments.
– Peer association: The influence of peers is one of the most powerful factors in shaping the behavior of adolescents. Peers can provide support, acceptance, and identity to young people who are seeking their own place in society. However, peers can also pressure or encourage each other to participate in risky or illegal activities. Adolescents who associate with deviant or delinquent peers are more likely to adopt their norms and values and to follow their examples.
– Spiritual influences: The role of religion and spirituality in the lives of young people can have both positive and negative effects on their behavior. Religion and spirituality can provide moral guidance, emotional comfort, social support, and a sense of purpose and meaning to adolescents who are facing various challenges and uncertainties. However, religion and spirituality can also be used to justify or rationalize violence, intolerance, or extremism. Adolescents who are exposed to radical or fundamentalist religious teachings or who are involved in cults or sects may be influenced to commit acts that harm themselves or others.
– Individual factors: The personality, temperament, intelligence, self-esteem, mental health, and biological factors of each individual can also affect their likelihood of engaging in delinquent behavior. Some adolescents may have innate traits that make them more prone to impulsivity, aggression, or sensation-seeking. Others may have low self-esteem, poor academic performance, learning disabilities, or psychological disorders that make them feel alienated or frustrated. These factors can impair their judgment, decision-making, and coping skills.

Effects of Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency has negative consequences for both the offenders and the victims. Some of these consequences are:

– Legal consequences: Juvenile delinquents may face arrest, detention, trial, probation, or incarceration depending on the nature and severity of their offenses. These legal interventions can have lasting effects on their records, reputation, education, employment, and future opportunities. They may also expose them to further victimization or criminalization within the justice system.
– Social consequences: Juvenile delinquents may experience rejection, isolation, stigma, or discrimination from their families, peers, schools, communities, or society at large. They may lose their friends, drop out of school, run away from home, or join gangs. They may also develop antisocial attitudes and values that hinder their social integration and adaptation.
– Psychological consequences: Juvenile delinquents may suffer from guilt, shame, remorse, anger, anxiety, depression, or trauma as a result of their actions or experiences. They may have low self-esteem,

Example Assignment:
“The variety of legal and nonlegal definitions of juvenile delinquency suggests that there is a level of subjectivity in definitions and societal images of delinquency. These images frequently originate in literature, film, television, music, and video
games” (Repoli. et al. Delinquency in Society, pg. 17).
• Think about the TV programs, movies, music, and books you enjoy: What is your favorite TV show? What did you watch on TV as a kid? What are you currently watching or reading? Does the show portray “juvenile” characters? How so? Does the show depict scenarios that you would describe as “juvenile delinquency”? How so?
For this discussion post, find a short video clip, image, or quote that depicts what you think juvenile delinquency “looks like” in the media and include this example with your written response.
In your response. explain why you selected this example? What are the messages about “juvenile delinquency” that this example represents? In what ways do the images of juveniles and delinquency we consume in the media present contradictory narratives, represent extreme cases, and vary by different times/places.

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