Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Preventive Strategies

Introduction

Juvenile delinquency involves the participation of minors in criminal practices that deeply affect parents, neighbors, family members, and teachers. The social, economic, and cultural conditions prevalent in a country determine the intensity and severity of juvenile delinquency there. The economic decline in poor districts of large cities has raised cases of juvenile delinquency alarmingly. As the socioeconomic environment of such districts is governed by poverty and under- or unemployment, young children become indulged in criminal activities. Several preventive strategies have been developed for curbing this dilemma, and some of the most significant are discussed and evaluated in this paper.

Juvenile Justice Courts

In the 20th century, separate courts were established for juvenile offenders, apart from the court systems for adults, with the aim of serving the interests of youth. In a juvenile court, a youth charged with illegal conduct is adjudicated as a juvenile offender rather than found guilty in the criminal sense. As young people lack the mature state of mind to make correct decisions, they are kept in the least restrictive venue upon adjudication. The juvenile justice system places its emphasis on developing a meaningful pathway that will allow young people who break the law the chance to obtain meaningful rehabilitation.

Juvenile justice courts are established with three core aims revolving around rehabilitation, accountability, and intervention. The core goal of a juvenile court is not to sentence the offender to prison; rather, it aims at proper intervention and rehabilitation of the child, as children are not treated like hardened criminals in juvenile courts (Wallace & Roberson, 2012). Juvenile justice courts provide proper counseling courses for children, developing a positive attitude and a sense of accountability in them (Bartollas & Miller, 2008).

Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency is driven by economic crisis and political instability prevalent within a country. Economic instability resulting in low income and unemployment leads to the development of several inferiority complexes among young people, and they eventually resort to criminal activities and delinquent careers. The following are the pivotal reasons that contribute to the alarming increase of delinquent acts among young children.

Several studies affirm that families where children receive adequate parental supervision are less prone to involvement in delinquent acts. Families characterized by weak internal control and integration, inadequate parental control, and premature autonomy are closely related to juvenile delinquency. As the rate of single-parent households and non-marital unions increases drastically, more children are being brought up without fathers—particularly in low-income families—which causes some to seek patterns of masculinity in delinquent peer groups. A lack of proper coordination between parents and children results in the neglect of disciplinary principles, and children may ultimately be treated harshly by their parents. Adolescents from poor families develop inferiority complexes and consider themselves isolated and excluded from society. Thus, they opt to join delinquent groups in order to raise their self-esteem and improve their social status. Furthermore, families involved in criminal activities tend to push their younger members toward violating the law as well (World Youth Report, 2003).

The majority of movies and television programs cultivate a cult of heroes among young minds, promoting the idea of obtaining justice through the physical elimination of enemies. Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are particularly vulnerable to aggressiveness, and those who watch violence-related programs frequently are more likely to engage in violent acts. Many television programs discuss openly the violent acts committed by parents and peers, ultimately exposing young minds to ways of engaging in violence themselves. Moreover, the violence depicted in movies is often unrealistic, and the true consequences of violent behavior are rarely shown. As a result, many children come to regard violent acts as causing negligible pain, which can eventually lead them toward criminal activities (World Youth Report, 2003).

Peers play a central role in shaping the character and personality of young people. If adolescents become involved in criminal activities, it is likely that many of them will develop into more serious offenders as they grow older. Adolescents join gang groups because gangs counterbalance the imperfections of family and school (Bartollas & Miller, 2008). Adolescents who constantly face violence join gangs to gain protection within their neighborhood. Those who are not part of any delinquent group face threats such as assault, harassment, or oppression on the streets and at school. Adolescents are highly influenced by their peers; if peers become involved in delinquent acts, a whole new group of juvenile delinquents may gradually form, as one juvenile influences others toward committing criminal acts.

The gap between rich and poor is widening rapidly. Low-income families are highly dependent on social security services. The symbolic exclusion from society of juveniles who have committed even minor offenses has important implications for the development of delinquent careers. Research has indicated that when adolescents are labeled and separated from mainstream society, they may be compelled to adopt a delinquent career path.

Conclusion

Juvenile delinquency is the result of poverty, social exclusion, and unemployment, which result in marginalization. Young people who are marginalized are more susceptible to developing and maintaining delinquent behavior. Several prevention programs—focusing on recreational activities, mentoring, early diagnosis of behavioral problems, economic security, and the promotion of healthy home life—have been implemented to minimize the problem of juvenile delinquency. However, if delinquency policies are to be truly effective, higher priority must be given to marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged young people in society. Issues pertaining to youth in conflict with the law should be a central focus of national youth policies. The administration of juvenile justice should be decentralized in order to encourage local authorities to become actively involved in preventing youth crime and reintegrating young offenders into society through support projects, with the ultimate aim of fostering responsible citizenship.