Interventions in Juvenile Delinquency - Coursework Example

Interventions in Juvenile Delinquency Inserts His/Her Inserts Grade Inserts 8 July 2009 Interventions in Juvenile Delinquency Introduction Juvenile Delinquency is one of the serious issues that call for attention of modern world being the juveniles as the central figures. Juvenile Delinquency is a term which refers to juvenile crimes and the criminal activities of the juveniles who has persistent criminal backgrounds. It may not be desirable to criticize the modern people for leading children to delinquency, but one could see its symptoms from the time immemorial. Though there were different juvenile detention centers, one is doubtful regarding the services they performed for assuring the better future and rehabilitation of these juvenile delinquents. The massive amount of theories concerned with Juvenile Delinquency and the treatment of juveniles remind that juveniles are supposed to be handled with extensive care affection by the elders. Juvenile Delinquency, as it is the criminal activities of the juveniles, often mull over as youth crimes or the one that leads to youth crimes. Analyzing the different studies on this topic, it reveals the fact that the tendency of committing crimes occurs mostly in children at the time of their transition from childhood to adulthood. It is often viewed that transitions between family, school and work are challenges to the youngsters and they fail in their attempts to live in accordance with them. As it is the world that does not give much consideration to social relations ensuring the smooth flow of social life, it makes one difficult to cop-up with present social scenario. “The restructuring of the labor market, the extension of the maturity gap…and arguably, the more limited opportunities to become an independent adult are all changes influencing relationships with family and friends, educational opportunities and choices, labor market participation, leisure activities and lifestyles, [and so on, are some of the causes that lead to Juvenile Delinquency]”(Chapter 7, Juvenile Delinquency, pg.189). Along with these issues, one can cite out many pressures that suffocate the youngsters; the fast growth of population, lack of the necessities of the world, poverty, unemployment, unstable governments, the disintegration of the family and educational system, [and so on.] (Chapter 7, Juvenile Delinquency, pg.189). This research paper is an attempt to find out the real reasons of juvenile delinquency and the best strategies and interventions designed to prevent juvenile delinquency. A complete description of the issues addressed Juvenile delinquency is a kind of antisocial misdeed common in juveniles. Adult people who had not loving parents and suitable living circumstances are seemed to fail in following good habits through out their life. If a juvenile will follow specific criminal behavior in his life, it is harmful for the society as well as the nation. Studies prove that complex psychological, social, and financial factors play significant role in juvenile behavior disorder. It has been estimated that juvenile delinquency or the number of juvenile delinquents are increasing. The analytical data of World Youth Report, 2003 makes it clear when it writes, “The number of children in especially difficult circumstances is estimated to have increased from 80 million to 150 million between 1992 and 2000.” (Chapter 7, Juvenile Delinquency, pg.190) The report continues to say that the problem of juvenile delinquency is becoming more intricate and wide spread. It is clear from the different studies conducted on juvenile delinquency that this issue has really affected different nations in different phases. But still the surprising factor remains there to note that most of these countries are unequipped against juvenile delinquency. They very often seemed as disregarding the issue, which craves for immediate attention. Though some of the developed countries have developed prevention methods to juvenile crimes, they insufficient in crime prevention. From the analysis of juvenile delinquency, it is understood that most of the studies and programs are mainly focused on the youth offenders, disregarding the adolescents and the crimes they committed. Other factor that hinders its prevention is the lack of proper actions from different governments. Lack of proper victimization is one of the identified problems of Juvenile Delinquency. Evaluating World Youth Report, 2003, one understands, “data on crimes registered by the police, more than 80 per cent of all violent incidents are not reported by the victims.” Therefore, one can assume that there are various factors for juvenile delinquency. Juvenile Delinquency and various prevention methods As a problem of social welfare and development, Juvenile Delinquency earns the attentions of social workers as well as doctors. Preventing Juvenile delinquency is an essential part of the formation of welfare state. Through the implementation of effective prevention methods such as engaging socially useful activities, and the promotion of a humanistic direction towards society and viewpoint on life, the young generation can form and develop an attitude against criminology. Prevention of juvenile delinquency is not only the responsibility of some group of people but it requires a collective responsibility of the entire society. The primary steps of prevention method are to ensure the harmonious growth of the personality of young people. To give them consideration and enough respect which helps them to the formation of self-esteem. An innovative guideline program promotes inspiration for adolescent people and it forced them to ensure their participation the process of social formation. Implementing various programs that help to create an environment to engage the young people in socially useful activities and community development programs are important steps in prevention measures. The government, non Governmental Organizations and other welfare institutions have significant roles in promoting preventive methods and rehabilitation programs. Execution of legal structure for the handling of juvenile offenders is the initial step in prevention programs. The journal article entitled Treatment Programs for Juvenile Delinquents provides useful information about the importance of rehabilitation programs. The article "Treatment Programs for Juvenile Delinquents” says, “Strengthening implementation of existing rehabilitation and delinquency prevention programs could substantially reduce future criminality” (Juvenile Justice Bulletin, 1999). Another important aspect of this implementation of rehabilitation programs for juvenile delinquents is the priority of correction programs in rehabilitation programs. Juvenile rehabilitation programs never follow strict rules and regulation and it should be efficient for satisfying the needs of the juvenile delinquent. Effective participation of parents in different programs provides new meaning and scope of any rehabilitation programs. Ensure the participation of adolescent offenders in to the process of education. Vocational training centers and other institutions are the encouraging factors in rehabilitation process. Drug use prevention programs, multilevel systematic therapy and functional family therapy help the prevention programs. The justice system should concentrates on risk assessment, control and monitoring of prevention procedures. A prediction for how juvenile justice prevention and intervention strategies will be dealt with over at least the next two decades. Juvenile delinquency is the most important social evil that influences the individuals and the smooth functioning of the social structure. Analyzing various news reports and articles, one can understand that current prevention methods and strategies are not sufficient for the effective prevention of juvenile delinquency. Gradual increasing of various programs and strategies planned and organized by government and other governmental organizations will have a vital role in the prevention process. Early diagnosis and counseling programs for families are other considerable prevention methods in the coming years. Schools and other institutions will have played their own contribution. Lack of meaningful interaction between parents and young people caused for the formation of communication gap between children and parents. There is a strong possibility of the empowering of rehabilitation programs among urban areas. Researchers and social workers will establish it as an important step in the prevention of juvenile delinquency in the coming decades. Robert H. Bremner and John Barnard have published the book named Children Youth in America shared their views on the significance of prevention methods for juvenile delinquency. They make a clear assessment when they say, “Expansion of public and private spending is required to provide adequate facilities and trained personnel to serve the needs of children who rebel” (Bremner, et.al.). Another notable thing is that ensuring the participation of special professionals, doctors and other social workers for the early diagnosis and identification of juvenile behavior problems. In future, all kinds of prevention programs will concentrate social service. Analyzing the existing prevention methods one can see that the service of an effective monitoring institution is essential for the success of all these programs. Effective monitoring agencies including both governmental and non-governmental organizations would play a significant role in delinquency prevention programs in coming decades. A comprehensive list and weighing of alternatives, both pro and con to the strategies/interventions proposed. Various prevention methods and strategies of Juvenile delinquency have their own advantages and limitations. The increasing rate of adult offenders from educated families makes challenge to the smooth functioning of these programs. The external interferences such as religion, politics, ethnic groups and regional customs create some problems. Appropriate feed back activities are essential for these kinds of socially related programs. Another major factor is that the effective executing of prevention methods. Formations of residential schools, industrial schools, various job programs and the diversion of juvenile justice system, etc., have number of practical problems. Lack of proper designing and testing caused for the weak performance. The online article titled: ‘Changing Lives: Delinquency Prevention as Crime-Control Policy,’ Peter Greenwood shares valuable information about the performance of prevention methods. According to Greenwood, “The vast majority—some 90 per cent of programs—have no evidence-based support they either have not been evaluated, or have been evaluated with a research design too flawed to determine significant effects.”(Greenwood). Funding is an important aspect of the implementation of delinquency prevention methods. Ensure the participation of governmental and non- governmental organizations in prevention programs. Another possible method is ensuring the treatment of the troubled juvenile outside judicial system. An exhaustive examination of all stakeholders to juvenile delinquency There are many stakeholders to juvenile delinquency including parents, teachers, friends, society, and so on. Different studies have proved that students who are denied of the parental care are likely to engage in criminal activities. One of the identified problems that lead one to delinquency is dysfunctional family set up which makes a dismantled figure in children’s mind about family and society. As the conflict in the family has had deep influence over the child, one can regard adequate parental control as the elite part in eliminating delinquency and parents being the prominent stake holders. Parents are capable of joining the weak linkages of relations and guide their children away from delinquency. As the primary functions are vested on them, parents should evade situations of assigning premature autonomy to children. The other factor or the stakeholder of juvenile delinquency is the media which have a profound influence in the psychological as well as the social development of a student. Media, especially television and movies have close connections with juveniles and the “cult heroes” seduce them. It is clear from the analysis of many researches that young people who watch violence are tend to imitate or imprint such deeds in their life. It is because of this reason, many regard media as the one assuming an elite part as a stakeholder. Peer groups are the other notable stakeholder of juvenile delinquency, equally important to the previous two. Children of the same age assume the role next to parents in influencing their peers. Membership in a peer group may lead one in actively participating in criminal activities and they get a false assurance or security for committing crimes. One who enters into such a peer group gets that privilege live in an “adult” society, and the sudden status attributed on him provides him opportunity in testing his desires and motives. Teachers, as the stakeholders of juvenile delinquency often face many difficulties. They are next to parents in directly or indirectly affecting delinquency. The role of a teacher in eliminating delinquency is nonnegotiable that they can give pieces of advices to their students to evade from all malpractices. It is possible for the teachers to conduct different classes for those students who gave the persistent criminal background. Along with these stakeholders, one can find many other factors leading juveniles to delinquency, such as, the society, economic background, race, and ethnicity. Conclusion To conclude, one can infer that there are various reasons for juvenile delinquency that calls for the attention of the authorities. Family and society have integral roles in making a child delinquent. After the study of the juvenile delinquents, it is clear that juveniles are the category that needs extensive care and affection, especially at the time of their transition from childhood to adulthood. Many factors have exerted their influence in forcing a child to delinquency and some of them include population growth, poverty and unemployment. Studies have proved the fact that the prevention of delinquency is necessary for a welfare state. There should be attempts to make the students aware of criminology and cultivate self-esteem in them. In doing so, government and non-governmental organizations can get the control over the delinquents and thus by motivating and leading them to work for the welfare of their nation. Most of the studies prove that the existing laws are insufficient in controlling juvenile delinquency and there should implement new strategies and prevention methods. The different stakeholders can bear significant roles in this issue and help the government in finding a proper solution for it. Anyway, one is sure of the fact that juvenile delinquency is a serious issue that eats way the vitality and intelligence of a major section of our youngsters, and it should be prevented at any cost. Works cited: "Chapter 7. Juvenile DELINQUENCY". World Youth Report, 2003 . 8 July 2009 < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ch07.pdf >. Greenwood, Peter. "Changing Lives: Delinquency Prevention as Crime-Control Policy ". Adolescent Development and Legal Policy Monograph Series. 8 July 2009 . Juvenile Justice Bulletin · July 1999,"Treatment Programs for Juvenile Delinquents.” 8 July 2009 . H. Bremner, Robert, and John Barnard. Children and youth in America. Harvard University Press, 1974. Read More