Paper Example on Juvenile Delinquency Over A Life Course

Introduction

Crime cases are common in youths and are associated with the developmental process and transition from adolescence to young adulthood. Juvenile violence and crime have however realized a notable decline down along the years. the participation of minors, usually aged 10-17 years in illegal behavior and activities is referred to juvenile delinquency. Persistent mischievous behavior, as well as disobedience, are also termed as juvenile delinquency (Moffitt, 2017). These are considered to be out of parental control and subject the minors to legal action by the courts. The negative behaviors exhibited by minors result in juvenile crimes which are charged under the law. Juvenile delinquency is characterized by violence, substance abuse, bullying along with prevention measures. However, the juvenile system is different from the adult system. The US offers special treatment to juvenile offenders. Juveniles are charged in juvenile courts and not the adult courts. On the contrary, depending on the seriousness of the offence committed, the justice system can charge minors just like adults.

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Juvenile delinquency is classified into three categories; that is, status offences, property crimes, and violent crimes (Sampson & Laub, 2005). The categories are based on the type of offenders in relation to the crime committed. This creates disparities within the juvenile system distinguishing property crimes from status offences. Noting the type of juvenile crimes can improve the prevention of juvenile participation in criminal activities. Status offences are considered law violation behavior that is associated with age. However, the same behavior is regarded legal among the adult population. Status offences include truancy, underage drinking, underage driving and running away. Most runaway arrest cases are recorded in girls than in boys. On the other hand, boys are mainly arrested due to underage drinking. Most of the status offences are handled away from juvenile courts since they are considered minor cases. Property crimes include theft, arson, burglary, and larceny (Sampson & Laub, 2005). The rate of property crimes committed has however declined tremendously over the past three decades. Boys record high rates of property crimes. Violent crimes include forcible rape, murder, aggravated assault, and robbery. The rate of violent crimes in boys is marked at 80%, and most crimes are recorded after school hours.

Juvenile delinquents are categorized as age specific offenders and repeat offenders. Age specific offenders exhibit offending and indicate antisocial behavior in adolescence stage, but the behavior ceases in their transition to adulthood (Moffitt, 2017). However, they tend to face mental problems, indulge in substance abuse as well as facing financial problems. Repeat offenders, commonly referred to as life-course offenders engage in aggressive and criminal activities even in adulthood (Farrington, 2017).

Juvenile criminal systems offer different punishment to offenders. Substance abuse among juveniles may call for sentencing. However, incarceration may impact negatively on the development of the juveniles. Therefore, in the protection of the minors, quality legal representation in the juvenile court of law is imperative (Moffitt, 2017). This can lead to punishments such as community service along with the advancement of therapy that can improve the cognitive reaction and behavior of the minors.

Substance abuse among adolescents is widespread, and its prevalence is notable in the late adolescence. Various factors contribute to substance abuse in juveniles. Mental health problems, difficulties, poor interactions with peers and involvement in the juvenile system are the common contributors to the substance abuse by adolescents. In addition, influence from friends through joining of gang groups lead to abuse of substances. Family members, community members and the society at large also influence substance abuse in juveniles.

The decline in grades, school dropout, school absenteeism in adolescents has been reported to contribute in the onset of substance abuse in adolescents (Sampson & Laub, 2005). This is characterized by a decline in commitment to academic work and an increase in truancy. Alcohol and drug use lead to cognitive and behavioral problems and may impact in obstacles in classmates' learning. Injuries from accidents, disabilities and diseases, and overdose cases have also been linked to the health-related effects that lead to substance use by adolescents. Most youths involved in substance abuse are among those at risk of homicide, illness, accidents, and suicide.

Substance abuse and delinquency are closely related. Juvenile justice system intervenes many of the juvenile arrests, adjudication, school offences, substance abuse, and delinquency are correlated and are linked to family problems, poor social controls in the neighborhood, peer influence along with physical and sexual abuse (Farrington, 2017). Drug possession and use are illegal to all juveniles. Abuse of substance is linked to violent and crimes that generate money. These cases increase fear in community members and at the same time increase the need for the intervention of the juvenile criminal systems. Substance abuse in the society accounts for the rise in the gangs, drug trafficking, youths' homicides, prostitution and both criminal justice and social problems.

Substance abuse and violent crimes set in during late adolescence. However, these crimes represent a higher proportion of crime rates in adults. Delinquents in substance abuse and violent crimes are major victims of repeat delinquent cases. Conceptualization of life course perspective defines the character of an individual in reference to the life events and experiences at earlier life stages. These events and experiences are embedded in social institutions as the turning points as well as pathways responsible for particular behavior and activities. Based on the assumptions of state dependency theory by Sampson and Laub, the relationship between the cause early juvenile delinquency and deviant behavior in adults cannot be linked entirely to individual characteristics, but social events contribute to change in individuals. This theory is based on three structural contexts which include micro-level structural context that accounts for delinquency in childhood and adolescence. This is mediated by schools and informal family social controls (Sampson & Laub, 2005). Secondly, continuity in antisocial behavior from childhood to adulthood illuminated in various domains of life. Thirdly, family and employment informal social bonds account for the change in criminality over human lifespan development despite childhood propensities. According to Sampson and Laub, the social attachments in adulthood promotes desistance from criminal activities. However, men may exhibit violence and drunkardness. With reference to Bowlby's postulation of the infant-parent bond, attachment to spouse, and coworkers increase a sense of responsibility and self-control and therefore lead to desistance from substance abuse (Sampson & Laub, 2005). On the other hand, according to Gottfredson and Hirschi's hypothesis, job constraints, as well as family commitments, can aid in the prevention of offences in individuals with low self-esteem. Based on Bowbly's attachment theory, crime rate and desistance over life course can be explained across different people.

Different events in childhood impact on the behavior in adolescent which can be reflected in adulthood too. Family history, social impact of the community and society play a key role in the early events in the lives of minors. A community and society with the exposure to substance abuse increase the chances of abuse of substances by the minors. Life course entails two concepts, trajectories, and transitions. Trajectories involve long term event patterns such a family history. Children raised in families with substance abuse history are most likely to engage in substance abuse at early stages (Farrington, 2017). Transition entails short term patterns such as divorce, marriage, and parenthood. Substance users may attain life turning points through divorce, marriage or parenthood. The turning point events instil a sense of responsibility in the substance abusers. Divorce may also impact on the onset of substance abuse in minors because of the emotional impact of the separation of parents.

Regardless of the evident reduction in the rate of substance abuse by juveniles, more action is required to curb the problem to minimal levels. Prevention of juvenile delinquency can help in stopping transition of juvenile offenders to adulthood. There exist anumber of government and private agencies which offer substance abuse treatment. However, there exist different forums which advocate for education and encourage minors in pursuing education. This plays a significant role in juvenile delinquency prevention. Education promotes social cohesion and promotes good decision-making as well as the practice of self-control (Farrington, 2017). The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention sink resources in juvenile delinquency research and advances both prevention and rehabilitation programs. This agency advocates for reduced substance abuse in under-age as well as gang influences on minors.

Crime prevention in minors can be promoted by the establishment of friendly punishments to minors that encourage prevention of juvenile delinquency. Harsh punishments may be detrimental to the overall behavior of minors. Exposure to juvenile court systems may increase the cases of juvenile delinquency. Situational strategies may contribute to the prevention of substance abuse in minors. Elimination of avenues under which minors acquire substances can play a part in curbing their chances of abuse. Understanding the environmental facilitators of substance abuse by minors can increase promotion of substance free society, out of reach of minors.

Rehabilitation maybe handy in handling chronic substance abuse in minor but in most cases, minors tend to form more gangs and therefore increase their abuse of substances outside the rehabilitation facilities. However, therapy provided enlightens majority of the minors and improves their self-control in dealing with drugs.

References

Farrington, D. P. (2017). A general age-graded theory of crime: Lessons learned and the future of life-course criminology. In Integrated developmental and life-course theories of offending (pp. 175-192). Routledge.

Moffitt, T. E. (2017). Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: A developmental taxonomy. In Biosocial Theories of Crime (pp. 69-96). Routledge.

Sampson, R., & Laub, J. (2005). A Life-Course View of the Development of Crime. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 602, 12-45. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25046139