delinquency in youth

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Juvenile delinquency remains a serious problem in Canada. There were more than 52,900 cases completed in youth court in 2010/2011 in which over 15,000 of them were violent offenses. However, it is estimated that this issue may be much larger than arrests show because only about half of all crimes involving juveniles are even reported. The property crime rate ranges from 3,909 to 3,155 per 100,000 and violent crime rate ranges from 1,944 to 1,838 per 100,000. In order to create interventions to assist at-risk youth, prevent them from beginning on the path of delinquency, or assist in corrective programs to encourage good behavior among the juvenile criminal population, professionals in the juvenile justice system must attain a better understanding of the causal factors that underlie delinquent behavior. A theory is an explanation that makes a systematic and logical argument about what is important and why. Delinquency or delinquents refers to a person who commits a felony or is involved in illegal activity. This study seeks to determine which, among the numerous explanations for juvenile crime, are the most rampant causes among the criminal population that induce the inclination in criminal behavior. This study will cover origin of the behaviour problems that include biological, psychological and sociological relations that may factors as to why youth become delinquents. For example, a sociological issue that might lead to a juvenile becoming a delinquent may be the more delinquent friends one has, the greater chance one has to become a delinquent themselves. Delinquency then causes several problems within society that allows youth to attain criminal records, receive criminal punishment and ruin one’s reputation within society. Pre... ... middle of paper ... ... central of reasons for criminal activity. All juvenile cases and scenarios are unique and different, and the causes of each youth’s actions are all different. It is equally important to highlight programs that have been proven to be only slightly effective or ineffective at reducing violence by excellent evaluation research. By having these programs, it will allow one to further understand the factors in such behaviours and allow the youth to experience a setting that will assist them in following the right path in becoming a sensible and mature adult. These programs may include a Scared Straight program, Out-of-home placements for young offenders, or even harsh sentences for young offenders. In conclusion, using these methods, young offenders can turn their unreasonable thoughts into a more practical thought process (Minnesota Cognitive Behavioral Network, 2002).

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