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JUVENILE CRIME & VIOLENCE.   Term Paper ID:25811 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: Analyzes causes, changing patterns in 1980s-1990s, need for reform in juvenile system, statistics, future, drugs, media, race, role of parents, socioeconomics.... More...

10 Pages / 2250 Words 12 sources, 22 Citations, APA Format $40.00 Return to List of Papers

Paper Abstract: Analyzes causes, changing patterns in 1980s-1990s, need for reform in juvenile system, statistics, future, drugs, media, race, role of parents, socioeconomics. Paper Introduction: TRENDS IN & POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO JUVENILE CRIME & VIOLENCE Introduction This research examines trends in and potential solutions to juvenile crime and violence. Trends in juvenile crime and violence are reviewed in the following section; a review that is followed by a discussion of some of the causes to which these trends are attributed; and then potential solutions to juvenile crime and violence are considered after the causes discussion. Review of Trends in Juvenile Crime & Violence Criminal anti-social behavior on the part of youth in the United States in the 1990s is shockingly high and increasing in frequency (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1996). Persons under the age of 18 years old are responsible for approximately 32 percent of serious property crimes which are cleared by arrest an Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. (1991, October). One oncecould rely on the 15-to-25 year old age bracket as the source of thehighest incidence of criminal behavior. Some Causes to Which Violent and Criminal Behaviors By Juveniles Have Been Attributed Crime, especially violent criminal behavior, by teenagers is a majorsocial and criminal justice problem in the contemporary United States(Brantley & DiRosa, 1994). The violent crime arrest rate for all personsincreased from approximately 21 per 1 , population in 1985 toapproximately 29 per 1 , population in 1991-an increase of 38 percentover the period (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). This behavior ranges from vandalism to property crimesand to crimes of violence including murder. A wide variety of explanations are offered forthis phenomenon; however, few such explanations have proved valid over thelong-term (Wilson, 1994). B. Bureau of Justice Statistics. Without denying the validity of West's conclusion,care nevertheless must be exercised when identifying the roots of familydysfunctionality and teenage violence, because neither of these socialphenomena are restricted to the African American component of thepopulation of the United States, nor is the Anglo majority in thepopulation free of these social phenomena. Many of these young people have learned to kill without remorse, for a drug territory or for an insult, because of a look or a bump on the sidewalk, or just to do it (Walinsky, 1995, p. In the 199 s, however, thereis a stronger tendency on the part of an ever greater proportion of thepopulation to engage in any activity, criminal or not, that provides themwith some degree of pleasure-when the opportunity presents itself (Barlow,1991). In contemporary society, however,increases in the incidence of criminal behavior are occurring among everyounger age brackets. Criminal victimization in theUnited States. Persons under the age of 18 years old areresponsible for approximately 32 percent of serious property crimes whichare cleared by arrest and for approximately 17 percent of violent crimescleared by arrest. For more than two decades, youngpersons living in the inner cities of the United States have ... What to do about crime. Among those aged 15-to-17years old, the homicide rate more than doubled. Some young offenders, however, dopossess a competent understanding of the moral concepts of "right" and"wrong," as well as of the social constructs of the society in which theylive that dictate which behaviors are legally acceptable and whichbehaviors are legally unacceptable. Lastly, one once could be assuredthat most juvenile criminal behavior occurred among the lower socioeconomicgroups in American society. Increasingly,attempts are being made to link criminal deviancy with increased drug usein society (Harrison, 1992). Adults, unless legally adjudged to be otherwise, are presumed topossess a competent understanding of the moral concepts of "right" and"wrong," as well as of the social constructs of the society in which theylive that dictate which behaviors are legally acceptable and whichbehaviors are legally unacceptable. Second, juveniles have become involved increasingly in violentcriminal activities. West (1993) bases his argumenton the discrimination to which African American and other minority-groupjuveniles are subjected. Government Printing Office. In West. Thus, ifeffective corrective actions are not implemented, one may expect the earlyyears of the twenty-first century to be marked by increasing levels ofyouth violence. 47). In the face of numerous initiatives from alllevels of government, however, criminal and violent behavior has continuedto increase in frequency. Onereason for this development among juveniles in the United States appears tobe the juvenile justice system in this country. (1991). Unfortunately, too many partiescontinue to rely on dicta, the validity of which is eroding. California Journal, 24(6), 27-3 . (1995, July). FBI Law EnforcementBulletin, 63, 1-6. Historical criminal justicestatistics for the United States. Thus, whether ornot this solution is theoretically valid is immaterial, as it is not likelyto come to fruition in time to matter. Inalmost all jurisdictions in the United States, such decisions are theprerogative of juvenile court judges (Siegel & Senna, 1996). Violent criminal behavior involving teenagers typically ischaracterized by a teenage perpetrator and a teenage victim. Crime andDelinquency, 37, 555-574. C., & DiRosa, A. McCord, J. ContemporaryDrug Problems, 19, 2 3-245. This practiceoccurs because young persons under the age of 12 years old frequently arenot subject to adult prosecution, and thus can act with relative impunity(Barlow, 1991). Harrison, L. From 1965 to 1985, the national homicide rate changed almostexactly in proportion to the change in the size of the 18-to-24 year oldpopulation segment. D. Criminologists have long associated the commission of crime with theopportunity for the commission of such acts. Ashamed and guilt-ridden, elite opinion often encourages even hoodlums to carry a sense ofentitlement and grievance against society and its institutions" (Walinsky,1995, p. 47).Further, according to this line of argument, the competitive nature of thefilm industry causes directors to depict killings in ever more brutal waysthat are then imitated by juveniles in real-life situations. The attribution of this trend to illegal drugactivity, the breakdown of family structures, an unfair society, or evenfaulty data collection has little effect on public perceptions of theissue. The strongest demands for changein the juvenile justice system are coming from the general public andpoliticians increasingly are responding to demands for change (Siegel &Senna, 1996). Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Company. (1992). By 2 5, the population aged 15-to-17 years old will have increased by23 percent from 1995 levels. The AtlanticMonthly, 276(1), 39-49. J. (1993). Q. Walinsky, A. Predictions are that, as a result of thisincrease, the number of homicides in the United States may rise to 35, or 4 , per year, with other violent offenses rising proportionally.This potential violent outcome has been referred to as an "epidemic" ofjuvenile crime (Walinsky, 1995, p. (5th ed.).St. Washington: U.S. The sad fact is, however, that today's parents arenot likely to suddenly become more responsible, nor are they likely tobegin to exercise greater control over their children. Other observers contend that the solution to the problem of juvenilecrime and violence lies in the development of greater responsibility andcontrol among parents. Barlow, H. D. "Majorcorporations make and sell records exhorting their listeners to brutalizeKoreans, rob store owners, rape women, kill the police. This argument is appealing and likely istheoretically valid. While the shift in this dictumeither has not been noticed by the general citizenry or the generalcitizenry is in a state of denial, the incidence of criminal behavior amongwhite juveniles is increasing rapidly. Thus, a competent adult is presumed tobe accountable for her or his actions (Siegel & Senna, 1996). The shifting patterns of juvenile delinquency in the United Statesmust be recognized and addressed in any substantive changes to the nation'sjuvenile justice system. B. Motion picture films frequently featurescores of killings in the space of two hours" (Walinsky, 1995, p. One once could be safe inassuming that the highest incidence of juvenile criminal behavior would befound among ethnic and racial minorities. According tothis line of reasoning, many teenagers in the United States appear toperceive adolescence as a "separate society that is not governed by thenorms applicable to the broader society. witnessed violent death as an almost routine occurrence. Such young offenders, thus, should beheld accountable for their actions. Most certainly, drug use and criminalbehavior frequently accompany one another. For these adolescents, culturalstructures and strictures associated with family and community appear tohave little meaning" (West, 1993, p. (1994, September). 47). Potential Solutions to the Problem of Violent & Criminal Behavior by Juveniles West (1993) is among a relatively large group of observers of Americansociety who contend that social inequities in American society must beeliminated before any meaningful change may be expected in the frequency ofcriminal and violent behavior by juveniles. The 18-to-24 years old populationsegment is projected to increase in both absolute number and as aproportion of the total population over the next decade. Review of Trends in Juvenile Crime & Violence Criminal anti-social behavior on the part of youth in the UnitedStates in the 199 s is shockingly high and increasing in frequency (Bureauof Justice Statistics, 1996). One once could depend on the pattern of violentcriminal activity wherein the great majority of such offenses werecommitted by males. Lack of school safety related to youthgang activity on campus. (1993, June). Such experiences desensitize youth, according this line ofargument, and, in turn, desensitization causes violent behavior to becomemore acceptable. Between 1985 and 1992, to illustrate the character of the problem, theproportion of persons arrested for the offense of murder who are under theage of 18 years old increased from approximately eight-percent toapproximately 15 percent. Phillips, M. Brantley, A. (1996). J., & Senna, J. Criminal behavior by young people represents a growing social problem(Phillips, 1991). Siegel, L. In the instance of serious crime committed by youngoffenders, the types of crimes and the characteristics of the individualscommitting the offenses are largely known. References Barber, M. The drug-crime nexus in the USA. Many of these young people have come to believe that they will not live to be 25 years old. Prisons hold no fear for such youth. One issue that appears to restrict the ability of all parties todevelop effective changes to the juvenile justice system is a failure torecognize that the character of juvenile offending in the United States isitself undergoing dramatic change. Race matters.Boston: Beacon Press, 9-11. Young persons have seen death and other outcomes of violence on the streets, in the schools, in homes, and in television motion picture depictions of life. Another trend in youth crime is the use of children under theage of 12 to perform criminal acts for older teenagers. West, C. Byany reckoning, the youth violent crime problem is serious and growingworse. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1994, May). Juvenile delinquency. If these shifting patterns are not recognized andaddressed, changes to the juvenile criminal justice system likely willcause as many problems as they solve. In absolute numbers the teenage and young adult population aged 15 to24 years old actually declined in the United States from 1986 through 1995. 12). Such youth have learned to live with constant fear. Minority population groups onthe whole believe that society and the criminal justice system withinsociety is biased against them (Barber, 1993). In 1985, however, the two phenomena diverged sharplyfrom one another. Government PrintingOffice. The high level of teenageviolence found in many minority neighborhoods is likely related to thisperception. The cycle of crime and socialization practices.Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 82, 211-228. The fact that the incidence of juvenile criminalactivity has dropped a few percentage points in the past two years doeslittle to change public perceptions of the issue, because the absolutelevels of juvenile criminal activity remain high compared to earlierperiods. It should be obvious to most concerned and aware observers that somesubstantial changes in the nation's juvenile justice system are required.If responsible substantive changes are not offered by knowledgeablecriminologists, social psychologists, and the juvenile judiciary, somewhatless desirable changes likely will be imposed by politicians through thelegislative process or by the general citizenry through initiative andreferendum processes. Trends in & Potential Solutions to Juvenile Crime & Violence Introduction This research examines trends in and potential solutions to juvenilecrime and violence. C. Criminal behavior existed priorto increasing drug use, however, and there is little reason to reallyexpect criminal deviancy to disappear if the drug problem is suddenlycontrolled. (Bureau of JusticeStatistics, 1997). Violent criminal behavior in absolute terms attributable to persons inthis age bracket continued to increase, however, because the per capitafrequency of violent behavior for this population group increaseddramatically. In the contemporary period, the concept of a juvenile justice systemis under attack, primarily because of two factors. The decision, thus, must be made by a competent judge. More and more people are coming to the view that behaviortermed criminally deviant is not necessarily socially unacceptable. 45). Rather, prison frequently is viewed as a rite of passage that a majority of their peers may have experienced. More than one-half of all serious offenses committed by juvenileswere committed by approximately eight-percent of the juvenile population(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). In the 199 s, however, such behaviorincreasingly is occurring among the higher socioeconomic groups. Proponents of this line of reasoning contend that inner city juvenileshave been exposed to "ceaseless media violence and incitement to everydepravity of act and spirit. One explanation offered for the increase in juvenile criminal andviolent behavior is desensitization. Cornel West (1993) attributesthe loss of moral authority of family and community to a nihilism stemmingfrom "the murky waters of despair and dread that now flood the streets ofblack America" (p. Journal of CriminalLaw and Criminology, 82, 229-242. Trends in juvenile crime and violence are reviewed inthe following section; a review that is followed by a discussion of some ofthe causes to which these trends are attributed; and then potentialsolutions to juvenile crime and violence are considered after the causesdiscussion. (1991). The proportion of such crimes attributable to femalesin contemporary society, however, is escalating. A major reason that an ever growing proportion of the populationappears to be finding criminal behavior an acceptable alternative to noncriminal behavior is the continuing socialization of criminal deviancy(McCord, 1991). (1996). Approximately seven-percent ofall juvenile delinquency referrals to juvenile courts involved violentcrime. Wilson, J. 1 ). A hedgehog proposal. The crisis of public order. Commentary,98, 25-34. If this argument has merit, it cannot be applied only toinner city juveniles, but, rather, would be applicable to all juveniles. Public perceptions are important. At the same time,however, the violent crime arrest rate for persons aged 1 -to-17 years oldincreased from approximately 3 5 per 1 , population in 1985 toapproximately 465 per 1 , population in 1991-an increase of 52 percentover the period and an increase that stated from a higher base level. Another factor to which increased crime and violence by juveniles isattributed is the drug culture in the United States. (1997). The problem in this context is thedetermination of which young offenders are and are not competent to be heldaccountable for their actions. Explaining crimes and analogous acts, or theunrestrained will grab at pleasure whenever they can. Factors such as age and developmental progress, however, dictateagainst an automatic presumption that a young person is competent to beaccountable for her or his actions. First, since the mid-197 s, the incidence of criminal activity on the part of juveniles hasincreased dramatically. Juveniles known with somedegree of certainty that many acts of anti-social behavior are not going todraw severe penalties even if they are caught. The cultural structure of American society also has been cited as acausal factor in the increasing frequency of violent and criminal behaviorby juveniles. An automatic determination simply on thebasis of the age of a young offender is as unfair to society as the earlierapproach of treating all young offenders as adults was to many youngoffenders. As violent and criminal behavior among juvenilesis not restricted to minority-group juveniles; however, this argument losessome of its punch. Nihilism in Black America. Washington: U.S. Further, the high correlation between drug use and criminalbehavior exists because white collar crime and corporate crime are all toooften excluded from the definition of criminal behavior. Thus, this researcherproposes that the most effective solution to the problem of criminal andviolent behavior by juveniles is either to scrap or to radically revise thejuvenile justice system in the United States. Many of these youth also have been taught by older relatives and friends that only the strong and the ruthless survive. Gangs. The number of young adults as a proportion of thepopulation declined after 1985; however, the overall homicide rateincreased, because among this smaller group of juveniles the homicide rateincreased by 65 percent between 1985 and 1993. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.