juvenile delinquency

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The Act of antisocial Behavior Submitted by S. MOHANA LAKSHMI. MSW 1 ST YR Submitted To Juvenile Juvenile Delinquency Delinquency

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Page 1: Juvenile Delinquency

The Act of antisocial Behavior

Submitted byS. MOHANA LAKSHMI.MSW 1ST YR

Submitted ToMR. RAKESH LECTURER SOCIALWORK DEPARTMENT

Juvenile Juvenile Delinquency Delinquency

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Page 3: Juvenile Delinquency

SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION

DEFINITION

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

PREVALENCE

THEORITAL CAUSS

JUVENILE DELINQUENT ACTIVITY

CONSEQUENCES TO SOCIETY

RISK FACTORS

INTERVEN2TION

CRIMES COMMITTED BY JUVENILE DELINQUENTS

LAWS

PREVENTION

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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INTRODUCTION

In today's society, the problem of juvenile delinquency is running more rampant than ever before. Also, the degrees to which it occurs are far more serious than they were, even ten years ago. The problem used to be over-simplified and chalked up to "kids will be kids", but today's "kids" are contributing to much more serious crimes than they used to. One statistic states that youths under the age of 18 years accounted for 15.4% of arrests for violent crimes and 33.5% of arrests for property crimes in 1986.1 This statistic is more than ten years old, and with the increasing popularity of gang culture and substance abuse amongst young people, it would be safe to assume that these statistics have either increased, or at the very least, remained the same. With numbers as high as they are, delinquency amongst youths must be seen as a social problem that has to be dealt with soon, before it becomes even more out of control than it is right now. Before we can begin to try and treat this behavior, we must establish a cause for it. As with a physical illness, a cure cannot be obtained until a cause is determined, therefore we must uncover the underlying factors that cause this behaviour, and then work fro.

DEFINITION

Delinquency as defined by Friedlander, is a juvenile misconduct that might we dealt with under the law.

Cyril Burt defines delinquency as occurring in a child “when his anti-social tendencies appear so grave that he becomes or ought to become the subject of official action.”

William H. Sheldon regards delinquency “as behaviour disappointing beyond reasonable expectations.”

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not all of which can be applied to the causes of youth crime. Youth crime is an aspect of crime which receives great attention from the news media and politicians. Crime committed by young people has risen since the mid-twentieth century, as have most types of crime. The level and types of youth crime can be used by commentators as an indicator of the general state of morality and law and order in a country, and consequently youth crime can be the source of ‘moral panics’ Theories on the causes of youth crime can be viewed as particularly important within criminology. This is firstly because crime is committed disproportionately by those aged between fifteen and twenty-five. Secondly, by definition any theories on the causes of crime will focus on youth crime, as adult criminals will have likely started offending when they were young. A Juvenile Delinquent is one who repeatedly commits crime, however these juvenile delinquents could most likely have mental disorders/behavioral issues such as schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder or bipolar disorder.

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PREVALENCE

THEORETICAL CAUSES

RATIONAL CHOICE

Classical criminology stresses that causes of crime lie within the individual offender, rather than in their external environment. For classicists, offenders are motivated by rational self-interest, and the importance of free will and personal responsibility is emphasised. Rational choice theory is the clearest example of this approach.

Poverty Poverty

Many youth are forced into delinquent activities because of a social disadvantage.

20% of all children and youth are at some time officially delinquent20% of all children and youth are at some time officially delinquent. .

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SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION

Current positivist approaches generally focus on the Culture, which would produce the breakdown of family relationships and community, competing values, and increasing Individualism.

Studies also show only 16 in every 100 kids will do something bad opposed to adult 26 in 100 will do something bad or illegal.

STRAIN

Strain theory is associated mainly with the work of Robert Merton. He felt that there are institutionalized paths to success in society. Strain theory holds that crime is caused by the difficulty those in poverty have in achieving socially valued goals by legitimate means. [1] As those with, for instance, poor educational attainment have difficulty achieving wealth and status by securing well paid employment, they are more likely to use criminal means to obtain these goals. Merton's suggests five adaptations to this dilemma:

1. Innovation: individuals who accept socially approved goals, but not necessarily the socially approved means.

2. Retreatism: those who reject socially approved goals and the means for acquiring them.3. Ritualism: those who buy into a system of socially approved means, but lose sight

of the goals. Merton believed that drug users are in this category.4. Conformity: those who conform to the system's means and goals.5. Rebellion: people who negate socially approved goals and means by creating a

new system of acceptable goals and means.

A difficulty with strain theory is that it does not explore why children of low-income families would have poor educational attainment in the first place. More importantly is the fact that much youth crime does not have an economic motivation. Strain theory fails to explain violent crime, the type of youth crime which causes most anxiety to the public.

SUBCULTURAL

Related to strain theory is subcultural theory. The inability of youths to achieve socially valued status and goals results in groups of young people forming deviant or delinquent subcultures, which have their own values and norms. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.552) Within these groups criminal behaviour may actually be valued, and increase a youth’s status. (Walklate: 2003 p.22) The notion of delinquent 2subcultures is relevant for crimes that are not economically motivated. Male gang members could be argued to have their own values, such as respect for fighting ability and daring. However it is not clear how different this makes them from ‘ordinary’ non-lawbreaking young men. Furthermore there is no explanation of why people unable to achieve socially valued goals should necessarily choose criminal substitutes. Subcultural theories have been criticised for making too sharp a distinction between what is deviant and what is ‘normal’. (Brown: 1998 p.23) There are also doubts about whether young people consciously reject mainstream values. (Brown: 1998 p.23)

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DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION

The theory of Differential association also deals with young people in a group context, and looks at how peer pressure and the existence of gangs could lead them into crime. It suggests young people are motivated to commit crimes by delinquent peers, and learn criminal skills from them. The diminished influence of peers after men marry has also been cited as a factor in desisting from offending. There is strong evidence that young people with criminal friends are more likely to commit crimes themselves. However it may be the case that offenders prefer to associate with one another, rather than delinquent peers causing someone to start offending. Furthermore there is the question of how the delinquent peer group became delinquent initially.

LABELING

Labeling theory states that once young people have been labeled as criminal they are more likely to offend. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.552) The idea is that once labelled as deviant a young person may accept that role, and be more likely to associate with others who have been similarly labelled. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.552) Labelling theorists say that male children from poor families are more likely to be labelled deviant, and that this may partially explain why there are more lower-class young male offenders. (Walklate: 2003 p. 24)

MALE PHENOMENON

Youth crime is disproportionately committed by young men. Feminist theorists and others have examined why this is the case. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.553) One suggestion is that ideas of masculinity may make young men more likely to offend. Being tough, powerful, aggressive, daring and competitive may be a way of young men expressing their masculinity. (Brown: 1998 p.109) Acting out these ideals may make young men more likely to engage in antisocial and criminal behaviour. (Walklate: 2003 p. 83) Alternatively, rather than young men acting as they do because of societal pressure to conform to masculine ideals; young men may actually be naturally more aggressive, daring etc. As well as biological or psychological factors, the way young men are treated by their parents may make them more susceptible to offending. (Walklate: 2003 p. 35) According to a study led by Florida State University criminologist Kevin M. Beaver, adolescent males who possess a certain type of variation in a specific gene are more likely to flock to delinquent peers. The study, which appears in the September 2008 issue of the Journal of Genetic Psychology, is the first to establish a statistically significant association between an affinity for antisocial peer groups and a particular variation (called the 10-repeat allele) of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1).

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FAMILY CONFLICT AND CRIMINALITYFAMILY CONFLICT AND CRIMINALITY

JUVENILE DELINQUENT ACTIVITY

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Behavior that contribute to health risks

GANG INVOLVEMENTGANG INVOLVEMENT

Gangs often engage in illegal monetary activities and are committed to criminal orientations.

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Public and Private Vandalism

CONSEQUENCES TO SOCIETY

UNTREATED MENTAL DISORDERS

Once the juvenile offender reaches maturation he is likely to continue exhibiting maladaptive behaviors and increases his risk of being cycled through the criminal justice system as an adult offender. Due to the small population of habitual adult and juvenile offenders attributing for the large percentage of violent crimes (i.e. murder and aggravated assault) the criminal justice system should supervise the small population of career criminals in an effort to prevent the spawning of serious violent offenders. If mental disorders such as conduct disorder go undiagnosed and untreated the juvenile offender has the increased potential to later develop antisocial personality disorder and continue his life as a career criminal. The majority of violent offenders exhibit characteristics of antisocial personality disorder and exhibit it no later than age 15Antisocial personality disorder is a common diagnosis for a serial killer. Authors Alvarez and Bachman found that one similarity among serial killers was their prior criminal convictions. In this case conduct disorder can become a probable constituent to serial murder if not diagnosed and treated before it fully develops in adulthood as antisocial personality disorder. Both conduct disorder and antisocial personality disorder are categorized as personality disorders under the DSM-IV-TR and share extremely similar definitions as explained above in 'Mental Disorders'. Some of the common characteristics include consistent violation of societal norms, aggressive behavior towards people,and a disassociation to the emotion of empathy. These traits are also common amongst serial killers and if the maladaptive behaviors are not treated they have the potential to conceive a person that fantasizes about killing several victims and then fulfills their impulsivity when they are no longer capable of suppressing it.

These are malicious and deliberate defacement or destruction of both public and private property. It often territorial and designed to show ownership.

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RISK FACTORS

INDIVIDUAL RISK FACTORS

Individual psychological or behavioural risk factors that may make offending more likely include intelligence, impulsiveness or the inability to delay gratification, aggression, empathy, and restlessness. (Farrington: 2002) Children with low intelligence are likely to do worse in school. This may increase the chances of offending because low educational attainment, a low attachment to school, and low educational aspirations are all risk factors for offending in themselves. (Walklate: 2003 p. 2) Children who perform poorly at school are also more likely to truant, which is also linked to offending. (Farrington: 2002 p.682) If strain theory or subcultural theory are valid poor educational attainment could lead to crime as children were unable to attain wealth and status legally. However it must be born in mind that defining and measuring intelligence is troublesome. Young males are especially likely to be impulsive which could mean they disregard the long-term consequences of their actions, have a lack of self-control, and are unable to postpone immediate gratification. This may explain why they disproportionately offend. (Farrington: 2002 p.682) (Walklate: 2003 p. 36) Impulsiveness is seen by some as the key aspect of a child's personality that predicts offending. (Farrington: 2002 p.682) However is not clear whether these aspects of personality are a result of “deficits in the executive functions of the brain”, (Farrington: 2002 p.667) or a result of parental influences or other social factors. (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.32)

FAMILY ENVIRONMENT

Family factors which may have an influence on offending include; the level of parental supervision, the way parents discipline a child, parental conflict or separation, criminal parents or siblings, parental abuse or neglect, and the quality of the parent-child relationship (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.33) Children brought up by lone parents are more likely to start offending than those who live with two natural parents, however once the attachment a child feels towards their parent(s) and the level of parental supervision are taken into account, children in single parent families are no more likely to offend then others. (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.35) Conflict between a child's parents is also much more closely linked to offending than being raised by a lone parent. (Walklate: 2003 p. 106) If a child has low parental supervision they are much more likely to offend. (Graham & Bowling: 1995) Many studies have found a strong correlation between a lack of supervision and offending, and it appears to be the most important family influence on offending. (Farrington: 2002 p.610) (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.38) When parents commonly do not know where their children are, what their activities are, or who their friends are, children are more likely to truant from school and have delinquent friends, each of which are linked to offending. (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.45,46) A lack of supervision is connected to poor relationships between children and parents, as children who are often in conflict with their parents may be less willing to discuss their activities with them. (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.37) Children with a weak attachment to their parents are more likely to offend. (Graham & Bowling: 1995 p.37)

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INTERVENTION

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURTJUVENILE DELINQUENCY COURT

Delinquency Court seeks to provide for the protection and safety of the public and the minor who has come in contact with the court

SCHOOLS

Special facilities that seeks to provide the structure, safety and supervision for delinquent youths.

COMMUNITIES

Support teens in making a variety of important lifestyle choices. An array of community support services for youth released to aftercare

FAMILIES

Incidence of crimes committed by juvenile

STATES 2003 2004 2005 2006JHARKAND 821 821 189 881BIHAR 260 214 286 210UTTARKHAND 28 36 23 106CHATTISGARH 1179 1819 2924 2053WEST BENGAL 106 75 131 99ORRISA 219 261 430 430

INDIA 25686 24985 25601 25817

Families need to be able to provide appropriate behavior control, models, and support throughout adolescence and into adulthood

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LAWS RELATED TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (as amended and retitled in

1986)

The Probation of Offenders Act, 1958

Juvenile Justice Act, 1986

The Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic

Substances Act, 1988

The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights

and Full Participation) Act, 1995

Prevention of Beggary Acts (State Acts)

DELINQUENCY PREVENTION

Delinquency Prevention is the broad term for all efforts aimed at preventing youth from becoming involved in criminal, or other antisocial, activity. Increasingly, governments are recognizing the importance of allocating resources for the prevention of delinquency. Because it is often difficult for states to provide the fiscal resources necessary for good prevention, organizations, communities, and governments are working more in collaboration with each other to prevent juvenile delinquency.

With the development of delinquency in youth being influenced by numerous factors, prevention efforts are comprehensive in scope. Prevention services include activities such as substance abuse education and treatment, family counseling, youth mentoring, parenting education, educational support, and youth sheltering.

CONCLUSION

The prevention of delinquency requires identifying at-risk individuals and their environments before delinquent activity and behavior occur, and then removing such risk factors or strengthening resistance to the risk factors already present. The most logical starting place for prevention efforts is the family.

In many societies, another way to attack the problem of juvenile delinquency is by creating programs that help prevent children from committing crimes. These programs may focus on avoiding drug use or gang involvement, or may focus on early education, therapeutic help for families, help to the impoverished or a variety of other things. With unclear answers on a single cause for juvenile delinquency, these

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programs may have some success, but probably won’t reach all children who might commit a crime. Society is sometimes horrified by the seemingly random acts of relatively “normal” children that are so heinous they do not bear repeating. Though delinquency prevention is admirable, it isn’t universally successful. Yet preventing some juvenile delinquency through intervention and education is better than allowing it to occur.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://planningcommission.gov.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/9th/vol2/v2c3-10.htm 30/10/2009

Madan G.R [2002] Indian Social Problems (Vol 1) Allied Publishers Pvt Ltd

http://www.slideshare.net/farizahj/juvenile-delinquency 24/10/2009

www.wikipedia.com

www.directesssays.com

www.encyclopedia.com

www.wisegeek.com