Differences in Delinquent Behavior between the Sexes and Proposed Prevention and Intervention Programs - Coursework Example

MEMORANDUM The youth commission Members Senior Youth 0fficial Differences in Delinquent Behavior between the Sexes and Proposed Prevention and Intervention Programs DATE: 31st March 2014. Introduction Delinquent behaviors entail acting contrary to what the law has stipulated. This means that a delinquent behavior encompasses all forms of deviant behaviors among different sexes. Research indicates that deviant behaviors among juvenile has increased significantly over the recent periods. It has been reported that there are two major factors that contributes to escalating cases of juvenile delinquency in different parts of the world. Among those factors include but not limited to: mode of parenting and social groups/pears. Mode of parenting may determine whether youths will or will not engage in delinquent behaviors. This means that the manner in which parents brought up their children may significantly influence the future behaviors of their child. It has been found that parents who spend quality time with their children may be able to equip their children with good behaviors that are universally acceptable in the ‘eyes’ of the law (Peterson and Rebecca, pp.37-45). On the contrary those youths who parents lack adequate time to understand the problems are more susceptible to develop /delinquent behaviors as compared to those youths whose parents invest time and resources in understanding their child problems. The second factor that contributes to escalating cases of delinquent behaviors among different sexes is the pear groups. Research indicates that there is a higher likely hood of youths to develop delinquent behaviors if they tend to move with a group of bad company. For example, youths with bad social groups are more likely to participate in unruly sexual behaviors, drug abuse to mention just but a few of the risky behaviors (Richard, Jenkin and Andrew.pp.65-70). Differences in Delinquent Behavior between the Sexes Research indicates that there exist differences in delinquent behaviors between different sexes. The difference may be attributed to various factors affecting both boys and girls. For example, there are those delinquent behaviors that are more susceptible to be executed by boys than girls. For example, boys are more likely to indulge in more risky delinquent behaviors than girls. Further, delinquent behaviors among different sexes may be classified into five major categories namely; individual deviant behaviors, family related deviant behaviors, delinquent behaviors attributed to peer groups, community related delinquent behaviors and school related delinquent behaviors. The individual differences in delinquent behavior between different sexes may be attributed to demographic elements such as race where the child was born as well as the age of the child. For example; research finding indicate that most girls at the age of 14 to 17 years may develop delinquent behaviors and are more likely to be involved in violent behaviors such as bulling other students in schools. However, boys are more likely to be more violent than girls. For example, boys at 17 to 19 years are more likely to carry gun in schools while girls at this age are more likely to carry knives and other sharp objects for self defense. Another significant difference may be observed within the family setting. Girls who have been brought up in a family where there is constant domestic violence are more likely to develop delinquent behavior where, they may end up developing personal prejudice towards male counterparts (Junger-Tas and Josine, p.379). On the other hand, young boys who have been brought up by a father who always battle their mother develop deviant behaviors. This means they may emulate their father’s behaviors of the father and develop a culture of abusing their wives in the future. In addition, separation between the parents may bring significant differences in delinquent behaviors among sexes. For example, boys who have been brought up by a single mother are more likely to develop delinquent behaviors due to lack of fathers figure. On the other hand, girls who have been brought up by a single mother especially those who have witness parental separation may develop delinquent behaviors. For example, they may have a negative perception towards men whereby, some of them may not even participate in lesbianism. Peer groups among different sexes may cause deviant behaviors. Girls who have experience rejection by their peer members may develop deviant behaviors. For example the may act violently as well as engage in drug abuse to suppress the situation. Further poor academic performance schools among different sexes may cause difference in delinquent behaviors. In most cases, girls who perform poorly in schools develop a sense of self withdraw whereby, they find the only way to gain recognition and fame can only be through delinquent behaviors. For instance, some may be involved in irresponsible sexual behaviors, constant violence with their school peers while others may gang up with criminal groups. On the other hand, boys may involve in fighting, picketing, drug abuse, drug trafficking among other forms of crime (Day and Wanklyn, paras.3-7). Both male and female gender is more likely to be involved in deviant behaviors such as irresponsible risky sexual acts, drug abuse, burglary, shoplifting to mention just but a few. However, male counterparts have a higher percentage of abusing drugs as compared to female gender. On the contrary, girls are more likely to indulge themselves into irresponsible sexual activities as compared to their male counterparts. In addition, the percentage of male who engage in daring deviant behaviors such as shoplifting was reported to be significantly higher than that of female. For example, statistical research findings indicate that about 15 to 20percent of violent offenses committed in different countries are executed by male youth. Some of those offenses include; crime against human such as rape, property offenses such as shoplifting and burglary to mention just but a few. The above mention cases are more prevalent in countries like England, Netherlands, Portugal, Athens, United states as well as African countries(Junger-Tas, Josine,pp.373-374). The reasons why boys are more likely to participate in daring and violent acts are due to their masculinity nature which motivates them to engage in more daring acts as compared to their counterparts. In addition, the societal anticipation whereby, boys are anticipated to acts bravely and are not suppose to show any sign of weakness even in times of difficulties. This has made boys to remain silent even when they are going through difficult times. The resulting impact is over indulgence to delinquent behaviors. On contrary girls may participate in crime due to various factors namely; environmental factors and psychological factors. Environmental factors entail social factors that cause female/girls to execute delinquent behaviors. It was reported that the perceived notion that men are more masculine have been attributed to be a major cause why young girls commit crime violent crimes such as murder. For instance, girls may commit crime to prove they are not inferior as they had been previously taken. Moreover, girls from poor families found to join criminal groups with an aim of serving through harsh environmental and economic conditions. In addition, girls who /have been brought up in a chaotic families were found to indulge in criminal activities as compared to their male counterparts. In connection, the perceived notion that girls should be royal and submissive as they prepare to become wives while men having been perceived as strong and /violent creatures have made most of the young girls to participate in delinquent behaviors as they try to come out of the cocoon of being inferior creatures as compared to boys. It has been reported that African American girls who were chased out of their homes were more likely to indulge in criminal activities as they look for the means of survival (Junger-Tas and Josine, pp.375-390). Proposed Prevention and Intervention Programs (possible solutions for delinquent behavior) The proposed prevention and intervention program/measures for delinquent behaviors among girls have been put forth. Such measures have been put forth after realization that most of the delinquent behaviors committed by girls are attributed to gender factors as discussed. Some of those factors include; girls tend to be viewed as inferior sex as compared to boys. Additionally, girls are anticipated to be role models and a female figure. Finally, abuse by male gender among other gender related factors may contribute significantly to deference in deviant behaviors among sexes. Some of the programs that might be established include; guidance and counseling programs, girls support community programs, education and training programs as well as occupational support programs. Guidance and counseling programs helps to prevent delinquent behaviors such as violence among youth, sexual and drug abuse, early pregnancy among teenage girls to mention just but a few. In addition, guidance and counseling should be accompanied by proper parental support whereby, parents should spend quality amount of time with their youth. During that time parents may be in a position to understand the problems affecting their children. In addition, parents may be in a position to discover any delinquent behaviors among their youths and curb such act before it become too late behaviors (The United States Office of the Federal Register, paras.4-7). . In above connection head start and child visitation measures have been reported to be very effective programs in prevention of delinquent behaviors. This is because the two programs focus at dealing with child behavior during the early stage of development rather than dealing with the consequences of crime like most of the programs does. Education and training programs both in schools and colleges may help to curb higher prevalence of delinquent behaviors. For example, programs should be introduced at early stages in the child school life so that a child can be guided on what they are expected to behave as they grow up. Further, education and training programs should be extended to homes and entire community via hosting programs on television and other social media platforms. Such programs may help to educate both parents and their child significance of parental care and guidance and hence, prevent escalating cases of delinquency (The United States Office of the Federal Register, para.7-8). Community based programs should established whereby, everyone including the government, law enforcement agencies, teachers, parents, business men, police officers and church leaders should work together to instill positive behaviors among the children’s. For example, church leaders should establish programs in the church to enable the church to prevent delinquent behaviors among the youths. Some of the programs include hosting youth rallies whereby, youth may be taught about proper behaviors and at the same time provide them an opportunity to interact and share their problems with teachers. This may help to prevent delinquent behaviors. Further, delinquency anti- violent programs should be established. The programs should be provided with the necessary resource and supports to enable them handle any form of violent acts among the youths. This program may help to minimize violence among different communities. The government and well wishers should establish youth empowerment programs so that some youths who were unable to make it to make it to school can have access to both formal and technical skills. This may help to reduce cases of delinquent behaviors (The United States Office of the Federal Register, paras.7-12). Works Cited Day, D.M and Wanklyn, S.G. Identification and Operationalization of the Major Risk Factors for Antisocial and Delinquent Behavior among Children and Youth. NCPC Research Report. Ottawa, ON: Public Safety Canada. 2012. Print. Junger-Tas and Josine. Delinquent Behavior Among Young People in the Western World: First Results of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study. Amsterdam u.a: Kugler Publ, 1994. Print. Peterson and Rebecca. Understanding Contemporary Gangs in America: An Interdisciplinary Approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.200.Print. Richard. L, Jenkin.M.D and Andrew. Types of Delinquent Behaviors and Background Factor. International journal of social Pyschiatry.Web.31.03.2014. January 1968 vol. 14 no. 1 65-76 Siegel, Larry and Welsh, Brandon. Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. 11th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, Inc.2012.Print. The United States Office of the Federal Register. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Proposed Plan for Fiscal Year 2011.The Dairy Journal of the United States Government.12.01.2012.Web.11.03.2014.https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/01/12/2011-548/office-of-juvenile-justice-and-delinquency-prevention-proposed-plan-for-fiscal-year-2011 Read More