Social Disorganization Theory Of Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency is the participation in illegal activities and behavior by minors. The social environment of which a juvenile resides in can play a big part on the path they want to choose. If they are stuck in the middle of economic instability, broken homes, parents who aren’t parenting, or abuse and violence, they may seek to other means in order to make it in life. Juveniles may partake in gangs in order to gain acceptance or have that feeling of family where one looks out for one another since they aren’t getting it at home. And in order to stay in these gangs, you must do as the leaders do, commit the same crimes that they do. Most juveniles aren’t strong enough to push through the endless amounts of roadblocks that come with growing

This theory relates crime rates to the overall characteristics of the neighborhood in which the crime is taking place. A persons location is a huge factor in the possibility that he or she will partake in illegal activities. Strong social relationships can prevent crime and delinquency. According to NCJRS (2003), “When most community or neighborhood members are acquainted and on good terms with one another, a substantial portion of the adult population has the potential to influence each child.” If there are more people involved in the community, then more will become like informal surveillance and care about the behavior of juveniles in that area because they are willing to intervene. This theory explains that ethnic diversity, broken families, low income, and population size can influence an environments capacity to have a strong social

They were the “conventional culture” versus the “criminal culture”. Conventional culture is when the dominant culture makes up the entire social order. Implying that everyone is aware of this culture and that everyone knows wrong from right. Shaw and McKay believed in the criminal culture conflict. “The idea of a criminal culture implied that criminals were not disorganized, maladjusted or acting in violation of their values.” (Panzarella & Vona, 2006) They believed that delinquents were well adjusted to their own social environment and just acted in accord with their own values. They wanted to be successful, but in order to achieve these goals they felt they had to commit crimes. The idea of this culture implies that delinquents don’t see themselves as doing wrong, but only doing what everyone else around them is doing and that this is how they must climb the food