The Psychology of a Juvenile Delinquent Naiveté and lambs are two common symbolic representations of children. However, these ‘pure’ children can also be some of the most ruthless and disturbed beings on the planet. Juvenile delinquents are the small percent of children who act on their violent urges. Juvenile delinquents are minors that are “guilty of antisocial or criminal behavior” (Houghton Mifflin Company 951). All juveniles who commit these atrocious acts have some discrepant factor whether it is genetic or environmental, that has affected them, and in turn caused them to be psychologically disturbed. A wide variety of crimes can be committed by a juvenile. Anything an adult has the capability of doing, a child can also. However, reasons why they commit these crimes have a great variation, ranging from personal to economical reasonings. Hope of rehabilitation for the juvenile never ceases, because there are many treatment options that are available and can be utilized to help. Juveniles can be treated with different types of therapy, surgery, prescription medicine, and treatment programs. Despite the contributing factors of juvenile delinquency, family background and structure, along with the influence of peer pressure are the two most significant in determining the success of the juvenile. A primary shaper of the juvenile and their actions is the environment in which they grow up in. Family environment has the potential to have a major effect on the outcome and behaviors of the juvenile (Myers 430). Family has such a huge effect because it is the earliest source of interaction the juvenile experiences. According to Louise Gerdes, “72 percent of jailed juveniles Gustafson 2 come from a fragment... ... middle of paper ... ...orcement” (292). Juvenile psychology is important to study because juveniles are the future. Juveniles will one day become providers, parents, and leaders, and the best way to ensure the future of our country is to make sure the mental health of a child is solid. Any heinous act an adult can commit, children also have the capability to commit. When the child does not get help, their delinquency can evolve into being an adult offender, and may never be rehabilitated. Without the brain functioning satisfactorily, there will be chaos, disorder, and corruption. All of these can be caused by the structure and background of a family, in addition to the influences of peer pressure. We need to make certain our future adults are being raised in a safe and nurturing environment, and have healthy self-esteem so children will not fall prey to the trap of peer pressure.
Juvenile delinquency may evolve around many different factors before it becomes a problem for society to solve. Gender and family structure can be a large and underlining cause of why children enter the criminal justice system. By examining the gender and family makeup, one could better understand how to treat a troubled individual.
The study of Juvenile delinquency and the theories pertaining to it are vital for several reasons. In order to more effectively engage with youths and foster positive behavior and schemas, the individuals must first be understood. The study of theory provides a means of understanding adolescents and the factors that lead to or detract from delinquent behavior. In the case of juvenile delinquent, Jordan Brown, theory helps to provide insight into why an eleven-year-old boy murdered his stepmother.
The behavior of juveniles is very drastically affected by the families in crisis. Psychologist Eric Berman gives describes a family in crisis and the subsequent effect on a child through an article from his book, Scapegoat where Berman tells how an eight-year-old boy’s personal problems and subsequent behavior resulted from an effort to repress the family’s basic problem: “During the year, Roscoe’s father had been sick with a heart condition and now was on the brink of death. Open heart surgery was his only hope, and the doctors Gave him a few months to live. Despite the tragic implications of these circumstances and the fact that the child’s father could die at any time, the family never talked about his condition or their own future.” Children
Juvenile Delinquency is a complicated subject because researchers and scholars have tried different methods to reduce it. Research shows that the methods which have had better results are those that are implemented in a way where the family of the juveniles gets involved in the process (Laub, 2014). A policy that will be advocated is the policy in the city of Santa Ana, CA: The Santa Ana Police Athletic and Academic League (SAPAAL). If we want to reduce delinquency and crime then we should focus on prevention rather than intervention. There is not one theory that explains why people commit crime, on the contrary, there are multiple well-known theories that argue for different explanations of delinquency. As learned through lectures
What is important to understand in terms at the difference between the juvenile and adult system is that there is a level of dependency that is created tween the two and the juvenile system focuses on how to help rather than in prison individuals at such a young age. However, it usually depends on the type of crimes that have been committed and what those crimes me for the families and how they impact of the greater society. The adult system distinguishes between dependence and delinquency mainly because there was a psychological transition that occurs with juveniles that is not always a predictor of a cyclical life of crime. However, if an adult is committed to the justice system there can be a dependency of delinquency and a cycle of crime that is more likely to be sustained at that age and level of cognitive ability then in comparison to a juvenile. The reasoning behind this is important is that is focused on maintaining a level of attention to the needs and capacity abilities of individuals living and working in different types of societies (Zinn et al.,
Parents should be more involved with their children’s lives, and try to discipline and set rules at an early age. It is better for a juvenile to be confined rather than him/her influencing average teenagers to follow in his footsteps. It is a sad day when a teenager has to spend his/her days in a juvenile facility rather than outside enjoying his freedom and childhood. Children, who attend these programs and cannot cope with the challenges, can be easily abused. The risk in enrolling these teenagers into such disciplinary programs may either break them or make them improve their behaviors and quality of life. Teenagers who come out of these camps are stronger, disciplined, educated and even become role models to other teens can someday help other delinquents. In order to change someone’s life, one must first change his/her actions and
There are many reasons why children and adolescents engage in delinquent behaviors. Merton’s Strain theory attempts to understand and examine these contexts. He suggested that individuals experiencing some type of strain/stressor feel negative emotions that cause them to participate in delinquency. After the child or adolescent has committed the crime, they are usually required to attend a diversion program. Many diversion programs have tried to prevent future delinquency by guiding, teaching, and rehabilitating youth that commit crimes. Yet, certain crimes crimes committed by children and adolescents have different approaches. Based on the seriousness of the crime, the adolescent will be charged as an adult. This approach does not address the current strain or situation the person is going through. Therefore, juvenile courts and diversion programs are extremely important when dealing with juvenile
In a study on juvenile offenders, researchers discovered that over 83% of juveniles showed signs and symptoms of disorders that may antedated their offenses. (Arline, May 2005). Problems with behavior may have been misunderstood for a lack of discipline instead of a disorder, and many juveniles with disorders came from a home with abuse present. In cases of juvenile offenders the courts are not doing enough evaluations on juvenile families, and eon the few that they do have on file their families are stated to be stable (Arline, May 2005). However, many juvenile offenders went through unthinkable circumstances with the members of the community they live in, parents, and agencies who played a role in their life prior to being in adult criminal system (Darden, 2014). A lot of juveniles who are in the criminal system have common elements in their non-profit profiles like regretful choices, mistrusting adults, robbed childhood, and being disappointed (Darden, 2014). For instance, a juvenile offender name Jennifer Pruitt, went through physical abuse, being exposed to drunken behavior, father sexually abusing her, and domestic abuse (Darden, 2014). She ran away fro home and confided in her neighbor as someone she could trust, but her neighbor convinced her to rob another neighbor (Darden, 2014). During the attempt to the rob the neighbor Pruitt ending up witnessing a murder, and was convicted of a felony murder that landed her more than twenty years in prison (Darden,
Youths who have entered the justice system have often been diagnosed with mental disorders or diseases. “A majority of adolescents formally involved in juvenile court have at least one, if not more than one, significant emotional or learning impairment, or maltreatment experience” (Mallet, 2013). The existence of these diseases often effect the juvenile’s stability and ability to make rational decisions. Which may result in them engaging in criminal activities The prevalence of disruptive behavior disorders among youths in juvenile justice systems is reported to be between 30 percent and 50 percent (The mental health needs of juvenile offenders). The difficulties of these disorders are often
Many Juveniles have been deprived of their proper treatment due to society’s lack of understanding and compassion, yet research clearly shows that mental health treatment not only keeps them at bay from repeating their crimes, but also helps them live a more positive lifestyle in society. In times we blame the juvenile for their mistakes, however instead of pointing fingers at them, we can come together as community to help them overcome their “inner demons”. After all, it is not the children committing the crimes, but their mental disorder that is hindering them from living a normal lifestyle.
While many argue that juveniles who commit serious crimes, such as murder, should be treated as adults, the fact is, juveniles under the age of eighteen, are not adults, and should not be treated as such. Juveniles are not mature enough or developed psychologically, and, therefore, do not consider the consequences of their actions. In the article, “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains” by Thompson, the writer argues that juveniles are not adults. Their brains develop at different stages and they learn skills that they need to learn at a certain time.
The dilemma of juvenile incarceration is a problem that thankfully has been declining, but still continues to be an ethical issue. The de-incarceration trend has coincided with a decrease in crime. It is hopeful that our nation is changing the approach to the treatment of juveniles in the criminal justice system. It means we know what to do and what is working, now just to follow through and continue the change to creating a juvenile justice system that is truly rehabilitative and gives youth tools to be able to be positive members of
Juvenile’s brains are still not fully developed giving them a much higher chance of being able to change. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls reasoning and decision making, does not fully mature until adulthood. Since these juveniles’ brains are not fully developed it causes them to act more on impulse and immediate gain and they do not stop to thing about the consequences of their actions. Their underdeveloped brain also means that there is still a great deal of potential to change the way they think and to help teach them reasoning and good decision making (Teen, 2011). Juveniles can be thought reasoning and also as they get older their frontal cortexes will develop and make it easier for them to make rational decisions. Since juvenile’s brains are not fully developed, psychotherapy is a very effective way to treat them and has been proven in many studies to work on adolescences. Mark Lipsey of Vanderbilt University concluded, after studying 548 different studies of youth offenders from 1958 to 2002, that cognitive behavioral therapy based on skill building and counseling is the most effective way in reducing recidivism in juveniles, while interventions “based on punishment and deterrence appeared to increase criminal recidivism” (Naughton, 154). This is a reason why so many convicts end
In the Juvenile Justice System there are many flaws that need to changed. Improving the system is definitely something Society should take into consideration. There are many holes within the juvenile systems that needs to be addressed. In this paper you would see the different options and issues that need to be addressed for a better success rate. Building more resources for families and counseling may solve many problems. The number one cause of juveniles misbehaving. Is just in the 4 Walls of the juvenile’s house. Rebuilding a family may have a better outcome to the juvenile success in the future. The first type of theory I am going to discuss the ecological theory. Ecological theory seeks to explain delinquency based on where
Juvenile delinquency is one of the major social issues in the United States today. Juvenile delinquency, also known as juvenile offending, is when “a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment” (Merriam-webster.com). Although we have one justice system in America, the juvenile system differs from the adult juvenile system. Most juvenile delinquents range from as low as the age of seven to the age of seventeen. Once the delinquent or anyone turns the age of eighteen, they are considered an adult. Therefore, they are tried as an adult, in the justice system. There are many different reasons why a child would commit crime, such as mental and physical factors, home conditions, neighborhood environment and school conditions. In addition, there are a variety of effects that juvenile justice systems can either bad effects or good effects. Finally there are many different solutions that can reduce juvenile delinquency. As a result, juvenile delinquency is a major issue and the likeliness of it can be reduced. In order to reduce juvenile delinquency there has to be an understanding of the causes and the effects.