Adolescence and Juvenile Delinquency

537 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Mass media relationship with adolescents

"I think it's important for us as a society to remember that the youth within juvenile justice systems are, most of the time, youths who simply haven't had the right mentors and supporters around them - because of circumstances beyond their control. " -- Q'orianka Kilcher --

Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (1980) defines adolescence as "the state or process of growing up"; even more specifically, adolescence is also defined as "the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority". Looking back on their adolescence, adults often conjure up grand memories, and laugh at their mistakes. Adolescence is a period in life that everyone must 'survive' in order to become an adult, although some go through it more turbulently than others. "Falling approximately between the ages of 12 and 20, adolescence is characterized by physical changes leading to sexual maturity" (Encyclopedia.com). Along with these obvious physical changes, more complex and hidden changes occur in an adolescent's attitude, outlook, and self-identity. Ultimately, the 'goal' of adolescence is to gain personal independence, and a sense of one's self. Although these physiological changes happen slowly, the environment has a great impact on how one's adolescent period will affect the person when they reach adulthood. Affective discipline at home, strong support groups, and a loving environment are all part of the key to surviving this difficult period and becoming a stronger person in the end. Many teenagers without the right combination of support factors in their lives can 'slip through the cracks' and discover a world more hostile than ever imagined. Our job as parents in today's society requires an understanding of this pro...

... middle of paper ...

...harsh consequences. There are many differences surrounding each youth's misdirection, and this third party action is deemed necessary only when a guardian's discipline and/or consequences have failed to control the adolescent. It is stated that the Parens Patriae doctrine will give "treatment" rather than treating a child similar to

an adult offender. Although treatment is considered the most effective method of rehabilitation in most cases, there are those juvenile offenders who are "beyond control" and whose cases are

transferred to an adult court. The state will also take charge when a child has committed a status offense, or has been neglected and/or abused, even by their parents. The idea of 'the state being the father' encompasses all children, whether delinquent, handicapped, or mistreated. This doctrine protects a child's right to be guided and guarded.

Show More
Related

  • 31st Amendment to the Constitution

    2234 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...l now be given the power to interfere in cases where parents have failed in their duties towards the child. This is extremely important as it allows the State to intervene in cases where there has been a failure, which was difficult to do in the past. This new role of protecting children's rights is favourable as it will, hopefully, prevent any failure by the State to children in unacceptable circumstances/situation.

    Read More

  • Panacea Phenomenon Case Study

    1906 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Goonies Movie Essay

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    We are introduced to adolescence in the 5th stage of development. Adolescence begins for boys around the age of 14 and continues up until the age of 21 years of age. At this stage of development, there are many changes that occur emotionally, physically, sexually and spiritually (McGoldrick, Carter, & Garcia Preto, 2011). At this time, adolescent kids are going through changes in their body. They are dealing with coming into their own sexuality. Skills pertaining to social skills and social relationships are being developed through experience. Adolescents are also increasing their skills of physical and mental coordination, such as learning about the world and working on their own coordination. Adolescence is also characterized by learning their own identity and where they fit in the world, as well as learning their relationship with peers and those around them. Spiritual identity is also developed along with a deeper understanding of life. Independence is something that is also weighing on the mind of an adolescent. Overall changes in the family structure can also occur when a child of this age reaches this

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Community Treatment Programs For Juvenile Offenders

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    I have witnessed in my time as a law enforcement professional juvenile treatment programs help some of our troubled youth. However, the treatment program the juvenile offender is attending, must offer something to the juvenile offender in the means of rehabilitation and teaching life lessons. For instance, a ropes course is a program we have used here in Muskogee with our youth. The ropes course is designed to take someone out of their own personal comfort zone and to begin to build trust between the police and the offender. This program has benefited a portion of our youth who were willing to cooperate and take the program serious. There is another portion of the youth who

    Read More

  • History Of Juvenile Courts

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    Juvenile Courts in the United States find their origins in English custom and law. As early as the 16th century, poor laws and chancery courts were meant to protect minors, either through allowing the government to take custody, or protect their property rights respectively. These actions were justified by the legal philosophy parens patriae, which holds that the government is the true guardian of the needy and infirm, including dependent children, which gives the government authority to act on behalf of a child. This philosophy was the original guiding principle that the juvenile system held at the turn of the 20th century, although the juvenile system began to shift back towards crime control and the adult system during the late 20th century.

    Read More

  • Juvenile Justice and Correction

    1131 Words  | 3 Pages

    Justice has always been the goal of our court system, but it is not always served, especially in cases involving juveniles. The judiciary process has evolved from a system that did not initially consider juveniles, to one where juveniles have their own court proceedings, facilities, and even rules or laws. The juvenile justice system has come a long way, and people have worked very hard in its creation. A juvenile is considered to be an individual, under the age of 18, resembling an adult. However, resembling an adult does not always mean that juveniles will have an adult mindset. Thus, juveniles may need extra attention to help get their lives on track. This paper will analyze various ways involving juveniles and correction facilities and programs.

    Read More

  • Juvenile Detention Makes Teens Worse

    1749 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are numerous critics of the juvenile justice system, and while most of their denunciations remain the same as those of the justice system at large, an ample portion of their criticisms revolve around the claim that incarcerating young people not only doesn’t work in deterring or rehabilitating them, but makes them worse and leads to adult misconduct. A report noted that youth sent to juvenile prison were 37 times more likely to be arrested as adults (Szalavitz, 2009). Another major problem some cite with the juvenile justice system is that most delinquent offends have some form of mental illness, and that while studies have shown that mental health treatment would be a better alternative, they are simply ignored or incarcerated (Ramirez, 2008), completely contradictory to the core values of the juvenile justice system which stresses rehabilitation and restitution above all else.

    Read More

  • Juveniles Should Be Tried as Adults

    2004 Words  | 5 Pages

    Much controversy exists on the question of whether a juvenile criminal should be punished to the same extent as an adult. Those who commit capitol crimes, including adolescents, should be penalized according to the law. Age should not be a factor in the case of serious crimes. Many people claim that the child did not know any better, or that he was brought up with the conception that this behavior is acceptable. Although there is some truth to these allegations, the reality of this social issue is far more complex. Therefore we ask the question, "Should childhood offenders of capitols crimes be treated as adults?"

    Read More

  • Pinocchio

    1711 Words  | 4 Pages

    Adolescence. The. The instinctive phenomenon that delivers many suspicions and guilty pleasures that haunt the young minds of adolescents until the coming of age. However, the absence of adolescence delivers the vacancy of knowledgeable wings that fly up to moral intelligence. It epitomizes the meager amount of light that provides sight to the step directly in front of one’s self, rather than light radiating upon the rest of the staircase; the unknown world of adulthood.

    Read More

  • Ethical Issues Of Juvenile Incarceration

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Parental Alienation Syndrome

    857 Words  | 2 Pages

    Why is PAS an unjust approach to use in a courtroom? PAS can often blind the court officials and a child can mistakenly be put into an unsafe living situation. Many courts are uneducated of the fact the Parental Alienation Syndrome is not actually a syndrome but just a theory. The judges and the jury, many...

    Read More

  • Looking Back at Adolescence

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adolescence is a part of growing up between leaving the childish ways behind and slowly preparing more mature roles as an adult. This is a very confusing part of growing up because this is a time were we are trying to find our identity, creating our long term goals, and making decisions that may affect our lives forever.

    Read More

  • Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Deterrence

    2800 Words  | 6 Pages

    Juvenile delinquency is committing criminal acts or offenses by a young person, generally involving people under the age of eighteen. That is what this research proposal is about. For my research proposal my research question is what can cause or deter juvenile delinquency in first time offenders? I feel that this is an important question to be asking, because in our society there is too much juvenile delinquency and if we can use this research to figure out what can cause and deter this phenomenon then we could sincerely help a lot of adolescents.

    Read More

  • Juvenile Delinquency: Is there a solution?

    1566 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Parent and Teenager Relationships

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Myths of adolescence are perpetuated because adults do not spend the time and effort learning about normal, expected changes during this period. It is much easier for us to put a label on people rather than to try to understand them. The teen years are truly "high speed, high need" years. Here are some concepts of conflict and some areas to look out for.

    Read More

More about Adolescence and Juvenile Delinquency

Open Document