Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Essay

There are currently two programs specifically in Henderson County which I am writing this paper about. One of the programs is the local Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County and the D.A.R.E. Program of Henderson County. I decided to write about local programs because it would give me the opportunity to learn more about juvenile delinquency prevention programs within my own community. Both programs are a huge staple within Henderson County and are two of the most important juvenile delinquency prevention programs within Henderson County.

Introduction: Recidivism or, habitual relapses into crime, has time and time again proven to be an issue among delinquents, which thereby increases the overall juvenile prison population. This issue has become more prevalent than what we realize. Unless a unit for measuring a juvenile’s risk of recidivism is enacted and used to determine a system to promote effective prevention, than the juvenile prison population will continue to increase. Our court system should not only focus on punishing the said juvenile but also enforce a program or policy that will allow for prevention of recidivism. So the question remains, how can recidivism in the juvenile prison population be prevented so that it is no longer the central cause for increased

The authors, in Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: Early Intervention and Comprehensiveness as Critical Factors., use determine factors of different programs, and to see what works and what does not. In this way, the most successful programs can continue to be implemented and improved. They looked at poor child-rearing practices, poor parental supervision, criminal parents and siblings, low family income, large family size, poor housing, low intelligence, and low educational attainment to determine cause of delinquency behavior in juvenile.

So, what are the latest rates per the national juvenile arrest trends? Well from the Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime Index Offenses from 1980-2012 there have been some surprises, and they were that there has been a “5 years of decline, per the juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rate which reached a new historic low-point in 2012” (“OJJDP Statistical Briefing”, 2014). OJJDP Statistical Briefing (2014) states that the Juvenile Arrest Rates for Violent Crime Index Offenses, of 1980-2012 shows that rates where generated by the arrests of persons ages 10-17 per 100,000 persons ages 10-17 in the resident population, and that the Violent Crime Index includes the offenses of murder and no negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. There for the when we look at the five year rate it will look like this:

Some communities are populated with families who work, leaving minors unattended and nothing productive to- occupy time. Psychologists Laurence Steinburg and He Len Chung found that communities correlate to juvenile delinquency. “…weak neighborhood social organization is indirectly related to delinquency through its associations with parenting behavior and peer deviance…” (Steinburg and Chung 3). The mission statement of the Juvenile justice for Georgia is:

Diving into an important aspect of criminal justice, I examined the cause/causes of juvenile delinquency, what others believe to be the best or most beneficial course of action for juvenile delinquency, and who has the most influence on juveniles, ages 10-18 years old in Vermont. Through a six question survey, I discovered an over whelming number of participants had indicated their belief that Vermont has an issue with juvenile delinquency. However, to my surprise, an impressive number of participants felt that Vermont did not have an issue with juvenile delinquency. Comparing my survey results to previous studies, it appears that, as a whole, the United States has seen a decrease in juvenile delinquency rates (Butts, J. A. 2013). Even

The utilization of evidence based programs have proven to have positive outcomes for youth such as; reduced anxieties, and depression, academic success, support systems and skills for employment. Characteristically, juvenile delinquency follows a route comparable to that of usual adolescent development. Delinquent behavior is a path followed and not just something that children randomly engage in and therefore, through the understanding of the developmental paths of at-risk youth, researchers believe that early interventions can help to increase positive outcomes (Youth.Gov, 2017).

The findings illustrate only what worked for stores in a certain jurisdiction. Adult shoplifters arrested by the police in this particular jurisdiction were not likely to be prosecuted, convicted,

Poverty and low income is a huge issue in the United States. Many people refuse to believe this because we are “the greatest country” to most people, but poverty really is an issue. Most of us are just blind to this fact. It’s everywhere, in every city, and in our backyards. It affects everyone, and that is why it is such a huge problem. Before anything can be done about this issue, we need to open our eyes to it especially if there is a close relationship between it and juvenile delinquency.

Characteristically, juvenile delinquency follows a similar path just like normal adolescent development and children tend to follow delinquent and criminal behavior rather than engaging in it randomly. Research has shown that there are two types of delinquents, those in whom the onset of severe antisocial behavior begins in early childhood, and those in whom this onset coincides with entry into adolescence. With either type, these developmental paths give families, communities, and systems the opportunity to intervene and prevent the onset of antisocial behaviors and justice system involvement (APA, 2017).

Juvenile offending is a major problem in society. Understanding the risk factors that contribute to the increased likelihood of a juvenile to engage in delinquency is important. There are many factors that can influence the increased risk of juvenile delinquency. These factors include poverty, low socioeconomic status, age (Jarjoura, Triplett, & Brinker, 2002), race, gender (Lucero, Barret, & Jensen, 2015), education (Lucero, Barret, & Jensen, 2015; Jarjoura, 1993), and family structure (Anderson, 2002; Kierkus & Hewitt, 2009). It is important to examine if some risk factors can contribute more than others and to what extent they interact with one another. This paper will discuss three important risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of juveniles engaging in deviant acts. The three risk factors discussed are poverty, family structure, and educational attainment. In addition, this paper will demonstrate how these three risk factors interact with one another, resulting in a higher propensity for involvement in juvenile delinquency.

Children need to have a role model in their presence to advocate educational activities, community involvement, and avoiding contact with the law for bad behavior. As Baker states, “Delinquents are made, not born” (1991, Pg. 274). Possible noncriminal behaviors that may affect a juvenile to become delinquent include; child neglect and/ or abuse, termination of parental rights, foster home placements, those beyond parental control, interfamily assault and other criminal acts (Baker, 1991, Pg. 275). Parents must learn to teach family conflict intervention, management problems, favorable parental attitudes and involvement in problem behaviors. At an early age we learn to do what it thought, showed, and have the adult figure set the example in our lives. For example, helping with academic failure, avoid delinquent criminal peers, and guide away from drug use and crime. Adolescent problem behaviors start with the parents, then move into the community, and society must respond by providing alternative programs and institutions to help the problem.

The huge influx of people to these urban areas overwhelmed society. The factories could not keep up, and unemployment became a factor. Poverty became widespread.

The development of preventive strategies will necessarily follow from an understanding of delinquency's root causes. If social structure is a key factor in the development of juvenile delinquency, then prevention will entail addressing issues regarding place, identity, or socioeconomic status. For example, if poverty is considered a significant causative factor, then taking steps such as providing jobs, job training, and perhaps additional welfare benefits becomes an important social concern. By eliminating poverty, society will thus

The social environment of teens holds an enormous influence on how the teens act and behave. Teens are easily influenced by their surroundings and they look to others for guidance. Their behavior results from that of the parent and peer influences. Parents play a particularly influential role in their child’s life and it is up to them to make sure that they are leading their sons or daughters in the right directions. A teen’s peers also play a large role in how the teen behaves when the parents are not around. A teen’s social environment, consisting of family and peers, plays a vital role in their life, therefore becoming the ultimate cause of juvenile delinquency.