JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Juvenile Delinquency

The Family Dynamics Affecting Juvenile Delinquency

Introduction

The role of the family as a social institution is essentially to prepare children for adulthood. To accomplish this task, the family is comprised of values and norms and different statuses and roles, all of which are devoted to achieving the goals of the family as well as that of society. However, this is no easy task. Families are often scrutinized when a child displays delinquent behavior. Of particular concern are the ways that families might promote or prevent juvenile delinquency. Among the areas of concern when examining the link between family and delinquency are traditional family values, child-rearing practices, the influence of the mass media, and parental responsibility. (Canter, 2005)

Social scientists, too, have identified a variety of factors that they believe contribute to juvenile delinquency. These factors include the lack of parental supervision; a lack of discipline; a lack parental monitoring; the lack of attachment to prosocial institutions such as school, community, and church; low income; poor housing; a large family size; low educational attainment; associations with other delinquents; drug or alcohol abuse; and the criminal behavior of parents and siblings. Social scientists suggest that it is not just one single factor, but many factors working together, that increase the likelihood of juvenile delinquency. This paper discusses the family dynamics affecting juvenile delinquency.

Discussion

Juvenile delinquency is increasing day by day. The causes are clear and the effects are pathetic. Crimes and drugs are the part of today's young people's life which is very disappointing for the society. Youth are said to be the builders of future and the need of positive development is essential for healthy society. Family dynamics also have a significant effect on juvenile delinquency. It has been found that children from disadvantaged families are more likely to engage in delinquent behaviors. (Rankin, 2003)

Juvenile Delinquency in Perspective

In the United States, juvenile delinquency is a social problem affecting families, communities, and society as a whole. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics show that violent crime accounts for approximately 12 percent and that property crime accounts for approximately 88 percent of all serious crime in the United States. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports estimate that about 1.4 million violent crimes and 9.8 million property crimes occurred nationwide in 2008, with 2.3 million people arrested for both types of offenses. Of those arrested in 2008 for violent and property crimes, about 415,000 (approximately 18 percent of the arrests) were persons under the age of 18, and of these arrests, about 118,000 (approximately 28 percent) were of persons under the age of 15. Given these statistics, it is understandable why there is concern over juvenile delinquency. (Cernkovich, 2009)

Therefore, the juvenile justice system takes steps to correct the behavior of juveniles and to try to change their behavior before they get involved in more serious property or violent crimes.

Arenas for Debate

Family Values

The debate over the family's role in juvenile delinquency covers a variety of areas such as family values, child-rearing practices, ...