Relationship Between Social Class And Delinquency

Most people have preconceived notions regarding the relationship between social class and delinquency. A common assumption is that lower-class juveniles are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior than their higher-class counterparts. Criminologists have performed a large number of studies examining the socio-demographic characteristics of delinquents, which often yielded contradictory results. When analyzing the extent and trend of juvenile delinquency in the United States conclusions can be drawn from estimates derived from arrest records, self-reports, and victimization data. Arrest estimates, self-reported information, and victimization data provide different estimates of the extent of delinquency in the United States (Maxfield et

Based on the social disorganization theory; Shaw and McKay account for high crime begins with poverty, low socioeconomic status and the inability to “control the teenage population,” (Sampson, 2016). Shaw and McKay also knew that within the community, delinquency was a trait that was picked-up by and from other delinquents. Furthermore, if the ability to control young

Overall, these studies suggest that while criminal behavior cuts across race and class lines, the societal response to these behaviors may significantly influence the course of a potential criminal career. Decisions regarding the most effective balance of responses by law enforcement, social services, and community intervention are critical in determining many of these outcomes Race and Class Effects.

My last point as to why children turn to delinquency is due to a lack of communication with their parents. According to Clark and Shields at https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-19417319/family-communication-and-delinquency (1997) they state that “the importance of positive communication for optimal family functioning has major implications for delinquent behavior. They also discovered that communication is indeed related to the commission of delinquent behavior and differences are shown within categories of age, sex, and family marital status.” This has been caused due to the new family model known as the nuclear family. What this is, is a family with parents who are both working, and the extended family is spread throughout the country making it very difficult for children to receive any too little form of supervision, as well as communication from their family. This also goes back to the sheep and the sheep dog theory that without guidance and rules a child is doomed to have a lack of actions versus consequence ideals.

There is a common belief among people that those of the lower socio economic class tend to commit more crimes than those of the higher classes. However, the reality of this concept is that people from each class commit crimes but for different reasons, meaning socio economic class mainly only plays a role in the reason behind why peo-ple commit crimes, not necessarily the rate at which

Criminal behavior among different sets of social classes often are dealt with in society in much different ways. If you have money you have access to good representation and therefore can avert serious punishment for any crime and you are not held to the same standards as the “ordinary” person. This is clearly exemplified in the narrative “Saints and Roughnecks” by William Chambliss. His depiction is a representation of social class and how it can predispose other’s thinking about you and how you perceive yourself within a society. Chambliss discovered that the Saints were probably acting more delinquent than the roughnecks, yet they were arrested more often, perceived as failures and heading nowhere by teachers and community members. This was in large part due to their social class and lack of funds to keep them well-dressed, well-mannered when needed and well-hidden in plain sight. Both sets of boys exhibited a certain demeanor among the community at large, thus adding to their “visibility” among those in positions of authority.

Some believe that juveniles should be punished by the same laws that apply to the adult offenders while others look to rehabilitation

Social class differences are used to explain racial differences in criminal involvement in the United States. Social Class is defined as a division of a society based on social and economic status. Usually when a person thinks about crime in the United States, he also thinks about the race of the person and the crime. Thinking about crime anywhere in the world is to think about why certain groups of population have more criminal activity and involvement than other groups. People usually focus on race when they are looking at crime. Blacks are often victimized as being criminals than the whites. In Robert D. Crutchfield’s essay he talks about the subculture of violence and the subculture of poverty which explains crimes such as drug sales, property crime, and robbery. Within the subculture of violence he talks about crimes such as homicide and assault. This essay will discuss and explore the author’s central point’s as well as how Crutchfield describes subcultures of violence and poverty and if he agrees with the other explanations made by scholars about racial differences in criminal involvement.

When it comes to juvenile delinquency an adolescent personality is usually impacted from different factors such as early child hood experiences of witnessing a crime, seeing a violent act, being the victim of a crime, or being around others or family who engaged in criminal activity, these factors can either create an adolescent with a positive or negative attitude, or an anti-social behavior which could create a path for a delinquent behavior (Wilson, p. 34). A study has shown that family interactions accounts for about 40 percent of the cause of an adolescent with an anti-social behavior, the study also shown that aggressiveness which is a common trait of adolescent who engage in delinquent acts is usually created from peer influences (Wilson, p. 34).

The theory of subculture delinquency was created by Albert Cohen in the 1950’s and the main study subject in this theory was boys. One of the main ideas of his was that violence and aggression, or delinquency in general, are ways for boys to earn respect and earn a title as “masculine”. The theory has evolved since then, girls are also subject to subculture delinquency, but in 1950 study was primarily focused on boys. This theory also explains the relationship between delinquency and lower class. Not only are these youths put at a disadvantage compared to their peers being in a lower class, but they are also at greater risk to be born into families where family role models have not obtained their own personal ambitions and educational goals.

Various Studies show that the middle class commite just as much crime as the lower class. Eeven though the police choose to arrest the poorer criminals. Usually the teenagers and the kids who are in their twentyes or older have the larges crminial records and they form the largest criminal age group. Study have proven many time that only the poorest people will have the criminal record. There will be no criminal record for upper classmens. Some study also found that police reffered lower class boys to juvenile court much more often than upper class boys. Even when both of the boys have the done the same type of crime or have the same type of criminal record. Mostley when it comes to upper class boys, police are more likely to reat the matter

Crime and criminalization are dependent on social inequality Social inequality there are four major forms of inequality, class gender race and age, all of which influence crime. In looking at social classes and relationship to crime, studies have shown that citizens of the lower class are more likely to commit crimes of property and violence than upper-class citizens: who generally commit political and economic crimes. In 2007 the National Crime Victimization Survey showed that families with an income of $15000 or less had a greater chance of being victimized; recalling that lower classes commit a majority of those crimes. We can conclude that crime generally happens within classes.

This paper takes a closer look at the social learning’s of society’s subculture that displays delinquent behavior. Using differential association I explain the learned behavior through the social environment such as role models, peer influence, and poverty stricken families. Delinquency is not biologically nor psychologically but is learned just as a person learns to obey the law. The study design is to help further the notion that criminal behavior is learned and not inherited due to genetic structure.

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.

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