Juvenile delinquency as defined by Legal
Dictionary, is “a person who is under age, typically under 18, who is found to
have committed a crime in states which have declared by law that a minor lacks
responsibility and thus may not be sentenced as an adult” (2012). Those at the
greatest risk of becoming juvenile delinquents typically come from
underprivileged and unhealthy home environments exhibiting alcoholism, poverty,
divorce, foster care, or abuse (World Youth Report, 2003). Juvenile delinquency affects
society, the victim, victim’s family, the delinquent’s family, and the
community in which they live. Nationwide, juvenile delinquency costs society
“tens to hundreds of billions of dollars annually” (Juvenile Crime, 1995).
Figure
1: Statistics of males
verses females pertaining to the four
general offense categories (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010)
|
Preventative action for juvenile
delinquency includes organized individual and group approaches. One approach can
focus on delinquency prevention through providing frightening images and
terrifying accounts of what happens to juvenile delinquents. Other approaches
include explaining the negative characteristics of certain offenses and how
they affect the victim and surrounding community (World Youth Report, 2003). Providing after school activities, youth
centers, internships, jobs, tutoring or mentoring services to the next
generation is likely to lessen the rate of juvenile delinquency. Getting youth
interested in extracurricular activities helps them to abstain from illegal
activities In addition; extracurricular
activities help to keep juveniles off the streets and out of gangs. Decreasing delinquency can help juveniles get
a better education, scholarships through sports, and to better themselves and
their community. Growth and expansion of these programs and cooperation between
community and law enforcement are becoming increasingly important in the effort
to prevent juvenile delinquency.
The future of juvenile delinquency will
only get worse if nothing positive is done. Comprehensive programs including
more than the negative impacts of crime and the outcome of juvenile delinquent
are needed in order to truly make a difference in the lives of juvenile
offenders. Creating alternative programs directed away from crime is the best
deterrence and helps youth create a better future for themselves and others.
Works Cited
"Chapter 7 Juvenile Delinquency." Un.org.
World Youth Report, 2003. Web. Sept. 2012.
<http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch07.pdf>.
"Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court, 2007." Ncjrs.gov.
U.S. Department of Justice, 2010. Web. Sept. 2012.
<https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/230168.pdf>.
Hamill, Ian Urbina And Sean D. "Judges Plead Guilty
in Scheme to Jail Youths for Profit." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 13 Feb. 2009. Web. Sept. 2012.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/13judge.html?pagewanted=all>.
"Juvenile Crime--Outlook for California." Legislative
Analyst's Office. N.p., 1995. Web. Sept. 2012.
<http://www.lao.ca.gov/1995/050195_juv_crime/kkpart6.aspx>.
"Juvenile Delinquent." TheFreeDictionary.com.
N.p., 2012. Web. Sept. 2012. <http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/juvenile
delinquent>.
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