Juvenile Delinquency Chapter Summary

The chapter, “Juvenile Delinquency” from Curt R. Bartol and Anne M. Bartol Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach seeks to address why there are so many youths in the Juvenile Justice System. The chapter begins to address the problems by using an integration of theories and research analysis to determine what trends or patterns has juvenile delinquency in the United States adopted. Also, the chapter looks at an overview of some of the underlying factors to delinquent behavior, developing strategies for prevention, and treatment alternatives for those in the Juvenile Justice System.

It is clear from the objectives of the chapter that juvenile delinquency is no simple issue. In fact the chapter is fairly forthcoming in revealing new changes

A theoretical approach is a basic image of society that guides thinking and research. These explanations typically fall into a myriad of categories such as classical, biological, psychological, sociological, deterrence, positivist theory, social control, and strain theory. However, the authors’ stance on juvenile delinquency appears to be more inline with a positivist view. Many of the topics found in the “Juvenile Delinquency” chapter leads one to hypothesize that human behavior is largely determined by biological and cultural factors that condition and influence attitudes, emotional reactions, behaviors, and the management of behaviors. For instance the authors lay claim to factors like family, poverty, school, and peers, which all play a vital role in juvenile delinquency. Positivist theories reject the classical theory’s assumption that crime is based on free

Therefore, higher educational consideration should be given to youths or juveniles that are marginalized because of their low social standings and powerlessness when it comes to supporting their education. Increasing focus on education would award opportunities such as being able to participate in extracurricular activities with peers, graduating high school, and a promise of a future. In theory by providing hope and not casting the so call problem children of society aside, some of the problems that are associated with juveniles that act out negatively will