Essay On Juvenile Delinquency

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A juvenile delinquent is a person who is typically under the age of 18 and commits an act that otherwise would have been charged as a crime if they were an adult. Depending on the type and severity of the offense committed, it is possible for persons under 18 to be charged and tried as adults (Wikipedia, 2014). There are various theories to explain juvenile delinquency. They all fall under three main categories: biological, psychological, and sociological. Biological theories are based on the idea that juvenile criminal activity is not something they decide, but rather something in a child’s genes. Palmerin (2012) states that Cesar Lombroso is credited for creating the major biological theory called Positivism. His theory states that individuals whom grow up committing crimes have inherited biochemical and genetic factors (as cited in Champion, 2004). Furthermore, he states that criminals tend to have certain physical features that are considered a predisposition to commit crimes, such as sloping foreheads or large earlobes (Champion, 2004). Another example of a biological theory would be the XXY Theory. This theory suggests that genetic abnormalities can lead to criminal behavior. It was determined that aggressiveness went along with criminal behavior (Champion, 2004). This could explain why treatment does not work for all juveniles. If there decisions come from biological defects, they would have no way of changing that, even with treatment. Secondly, psychological theories focus on problems that occurred previously in one’s childhood that could have given a child reason to act out (McDavid and McCandless, 1962). The two major psychological theories are the Psychoanalytic Theory and the Social Learning theory. The psychoanaly... ... middle of paper ... ...ack in commitment to laws, then it could lead to delinquent behavior. The third bond is involvement, because Hirschi believed that if a person were involved in positive activities they would not have time to commit crimes. Finally, the fourth and final bond is belief. An individual must feel comfortable with their laws and feel that they are fair, or they will want to rebel against them (Jones, 2007). In conclusion, there is not one set answer as to why juveniles turn to criminal activity. Each case is different for each individual, and it is important to understand the different types of theories that can be applied. These theories can help us to gain more knowledge and be able to understand juveniles better in the future. Also, if we have possible reasons as to what causes juvenile delinquency, then we can work to find solutions to solve these problems as well.

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