The Realities of Juvenile Crime In The United States - Essay Example

Juvenile Crime in the United s al affiliation Juvenile crime in the United s Juvenile crime and justice is one of thecritical issues in the American law that has been stirring up focus and interest of different people. The American juvenile justice has been changing time to time since the late nineteenth century. Initially, youths and adults were subject to similar punishment after violating the law. In 1909, Judge Julian Mack suggested a review of the American law, arguing that juveniles should be treated like children under the rule of parents.

Macks suggestions triggered the revolution and a review of the law on the basis of age, thus leading to the development of the juvenile courts in America (Scott & Steinberg, 2008). Different investigations and studies have been conducted on juvenile crime and justice. Major issues of these studies include juvenile delinquency and offense status. Other issues include comparison of adult courts and juvenile courts, variables that correlate with juvenile crime rates, delinquency, effects on the young tried as adults and current issues in the juvenile justice.

The difference between the juvenile courts and adult courts include the absence of the right to bail in childrens court. If a minor is detained in a juvenile hall, you cannot post a bond to get him or her out. Another difference is that in juvenile courts, the parents and guardian are questioned by the court during hearings about their childs behavior. The responses of the parent or the guardian play a role in determining the case, however, this does not exist in adult courts. Also juvenile court hearing is closed to the public meaning that the general public is not inside juvenile courts with the exception of family members, but in adult court the general public can attend the trial hearing.

Typically, in juvenile court the mental health and substance abuse evaluations are carried out, a rare phenomenon in adult courts (World Youth Report, 2003).The causes that correlates to juvenile crimes includes drugs and substance. Drug abuse causes delinquency among teenager leading to committing crimes such as precocious sex activity, school failure, gun ownership and other related behaviors. The social media plays a part in juvenile crimes; television and movies have promoted "cult of heroes" that advocate justice through physical means that seek the elimination of enemies.

This has been supported by the American Psychological Association that concluded that television violence contribute up to 10% of aggressive behavior among teenagers. Peer influence is also a major cause of delinquent behavior, especially where teenagers form of join delinquent gang group. These peer-groups give a sense of safety, and a means of facing the threat of assault and harassment in schools or the streets. Delinquent identities also lead to criminal behavior among the adolescents. In order to maintain this identity, the teenager tends to be violent and maintains the conflicts relation to the society as a whole.

Lastly, exclusions, especially the growing gap between the rich and the poor result in delinquent activities. The rich children start labeling the poor, hence the development of aggression-related behaviors (World Youth Report, 2003).In juvenile justice, delinquency and status offenses are sensitive justice issues. Status offenses refer to offenses that would not be classified as a crime if committed by adults. Justice statistics shows that, about 20 percent of all juvenile cases consist of status offenses.

Primary status offenses committed by youths in America include truancy, violation of county or city curfew and underage alcohol consumption. Delinquency refers to the participation in criminal activities by young people, especially less than 18 years. Juvenile delinquency eventually becomes complicated and universal in the absences of well-equipped crime prevention programs. Key drivers of juvenile delinquency include poverty, parental alcoholism, family breakup, divorces, overcrowding, and abusive conditions.

According to juvenile justice statistics, juvenile arrest rates are high, although the rates have been decreasing in past decades. The highest arrest rates were experienced in 1992-1995. Statistics shows that the majority of youths arrested are aged between 10-17 years. The FBI revealed that juvenile crime has fallen by 29 percent in the past five years (Puzzanchera, 2013). Statistics also reveal that major crimes committed by juvenile include murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, and robbery.

Property crime includes arson, burglary, motor vehicle theft and larceny-theft. Currently, the most pressing issues to the juvenile court are how to deal with delinquent behavior of teenagers who are found to be mentally ill or emotionally disturbed. In this regard, the medical practitioners, jury, and social workers should collaborate holistically to see how to deal well with such cases.ReferencesPuzzanchera, C. (2013). Juvenile Arrest 2011. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/244476.

pdf Scott, E., & Steinberg L. (2008). A Brief History of Juvenile Justice in America. The Future of Children. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://futureofchildren.org/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=31&articleid =40&s ectionid=103 World youth report. (2003). Juvenile delinquency. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch07.pdf