High rates of violence, unchecked gang activity, and overcrowding persist in Division of Juvenile Justice facilities where many youth sentenced as adults start their incarceration. Fights frequently erupt in facility dayrooms and school areas”. If the system continues to expose juveniles to more violence by sending them off to adult prison then problems get worse by slowing their development to
Analyzing the juvenile delinquency, this can be perceived from different mindsets. Merriam-Webster defines juvenile delinquency as conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action and a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment. Also, a crimes committed by a person is only name a juvenile if the individual is under the age of eighteen In today’s society majority of kids are not born to be criminals or defined as above as delinquents. Children usually develop these habits or lifestyles choices due to poverty, circumstances and culture.
For a juvenile to transfer into the adult court system a juvenile must be charged as a youthful offender. Youthful offenders often pose a threat to the community and/ or have committed a violent crime. State legislation has passed youthful offender laws permitting juveniles to be charged as an adult in criminal proceedings. Oklahoma passed the Youthful Offender Act in 1998. To be charged as a youthful offender a juvenile must meet certain requirements and crimes.
57). Research shows that delinquency and youth violence have been on the rise over the decade growing in epidemic proportions since 1993 (Hoyt & Scherer, 1998). Delinquency means for one to break the law and does not have to involve any form of criminal activity in one doing so. However, it is known that antisocial behavior, delinquency, and violence share common roots and similar consequences according to Mcwhirter et al. (2013). Violent crimes committed by youth has escalated by youth victimized by youth violence doubling the in juvenile arrests for violent crime by 2010, and fueled anxieties about future crime wave as the juvenile delinquents mature into adults (Hoyt & Scherer, 1998) with female delinquency making its mark up the ladder according to research.
Sarah Ariel Prison Kids: A Crime Against America’s Children Overview: The documentary titled Prison Kids: A Crime Against America’s Children is one that addresses a very prominent and pressing issue within our society. The problem is one that is negatively affecting the future of this country as it disrupts the healthy development of future generations. The proportion of children who are being placed in the legal system on a regular basis is outstanding and astonishing. It is beyond upsetting to see how the system has failed the youth in America.
United States: Greenhaven Publishing. The book provides various opposing viewpoints regarding the cause of juvenile crime and how the criminal justice system should treat juvenile offenders. Each argument highlights the main risk factors for juvenile crime. For example, gang plays a large part of juvenile violence.
Juvenile delinquency as a concept did not always exist as we know it today, nor did the concept of childhood. During the Middle Ages (500-1500 AD) children were merely depicted as miniature adults and were faced with severe physical punishment for offences. As most children entered the adult world of labour at a very young age through apprenticeship, discipline was severe as their Master was held accountable for any sign of disobedience. Apprenticeship was realised as an effective form of control over children and it unknowingly became the first form of “detention” for delinquent children. These children were put to work in agriculture, domestic services or trading and it became a means of keeping them out of trouble.
Some major findings in this study were that participants were significantly more violent than the average juvenile delinquent. They were also asked about the most serious crimes that they had ever committed finding that among the 34 participants, 5 terrorist threats, 5 murders, 2 attempted murders, 1 manslaughter, 12 burglaries, 11 strong-armed robberies, 9 assaults with a deadly weapon, 8 drug possessions with intent to deal, 6 gun possessions, and 5 shootings. There were many preexisting risk factors that included exposure to violence, vicarious victimization, and criminal and delinquent acts. In the aspect of their future expectations, they mostly had negative expectations. When the young males were asked about future risks, they really felt like they would be the victim of a violent crime or even shot at.
The juvenile justice system has made numerous of ethical issues when managing juvenile offenders. The issue with the juvenile justice system is the laws and rules that govern it. It has led to years of controversial debate over the ethical dilemmas of the juvenile corrections system, and how they work with youth offenders. The number of minors entering the juvenile justice system is increasing every month. The reasons why the juvenile justice system faces ethical dilemmas is important and needs to be addressed: (1) a vast proportion of juveniles are being tried and prosecuted as adults; (2) the psychological maturation of the juvenile to fully comprehend the justice system; and (3) the factors that contribute to minorities being adjudicated in the juvenile justice system are more likely than White offenders.
Juveniles should be convicted as adults for violent crimes because it is not fair for juveniles to commit big crimes and get away with it so easily. If they want to act like adults, they should be treated. Some teens commit crimes and don't have a really good excuse on why they do it. In the article “On Punishment and Teen Killers” by Jennifer Jenkins she explains how the teenager that killed her sister, husband and her unborn child excuse of killing them was that he just wanted to “see what it would feel like to shoot someone”, which is no good excuse for what he did to this family. Another example from Jennifer's Jenkins article she states how “undeveloped brain” has nothing to do with teens committing these crimes.
Treatment rather than Punishment Thesis Statement: Children, as innocents and infantile, are unconsciously doing unwanted acts that may violate our laws, therefore insufficient guidance from family, environmental factors syndicates, poverty and problem on education, which are the main rationales for their involvement on crimes should be given corresponding solution by the government. INTRODUCTION Juvenile delinquency means that a youth specifically those who are below 18 years old commits an act that is against the law. It can also be used as legal term for the criminal behavior carried out by minors. According to UNICEF, an average of 10, 500 minors are being arrested and detained every year – about 28 children every day, or more
Additionally, teenagers whose origin are not actively involved or interested in their lives are more likely to become bullies, which may ultimately entice to involvement in gangs or violent manner. How Can Parents Take an Active Role in Preventing Delinquent Behaviors in Their Children? Ultimately, parents may have the most control over the behaviors of their spawn. In other account, children and adolescent await to follow a trail toward criminal and murderer manner rather than engaging randomly.1Research has shown that there are two types of delinquents,. One positive teenager eduction model addresses the six spirit domains of work, education, relationships, participation, tone, and creativity.
A theory that explains juvenile delinquency is the Psychological theory. This theory focuses on the personality of the offenders rather than biological or social situations. This theory easily explains juvenile delinquency when looking at the three interrelated parts of the personality- id, ego, and superego. The id is the part of the personality that is supposed to destroy aggression which usually controlled as a person grows and learns social norms and rules; however, an over aggressive person may have an under regulated id which could cause them to be violent.
Crime is defined as an act that violates the constitution such as theft, assault, drugs/alcohol offense, curfew violations, and murder. Despite being punishable by law, many people still commit these crimes including teenagers. Teenagers should be punished for their crimes because they have the capability of recognizing their responsibility as a good citizen in the society. They are old enough to know the consequences of every action they make.
Generally, it is agreed that a juvenile who committed a crime at a very tender age, the time spent in a cell will eventually mold his/her behavior later in the future. Apart from that, from the observation, it can be seen taking a child through the formal process of arrest and trial is generally not necessary for first time low-risk offenders, and can actually increase the likelihood that the child will re-offend through the process of labelling. It is agreed that, the more deeply a child advances through the criminal justice process, the more likely he/she is to self-identify with criminality, and therefore re-offend. In resolving this matter, the juvenile justice system of many legal systems