Theories of Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example

? Theories of Juvenile Delinquency Number: Introduction There are several sociological, psychologicaland criminological theories that explain that explain individual behavior, and also seek to provide therapeutic frameworks that are to help the individual take on desirable behavioral traits. In this respect, deviant social or antisocial behaviors and serious cases of juvenile delinquency such as William James Bosket Jr. (b. December 9th, 1962) can be understood and reconstructed using the strain, control, social learning and labeling theories, as shall be seen in the ensuing discussion. Strain theory The strain theory has it that here are processes at the societal level which filter downwards and affect the manner an individual perceives his needs. This is to the effect that certain social structures are inherently inadequate, or that they are bereft of adequate regulation to the point of changing an individual’s perception towards the opportunities and means within his disposal. In the case of Bosket Jr., which Fox (2008) presents, it is beyond gainsay that he was raised in less privileged conditions. Underprivileged conditions are almost always amenable to crime and Harlem where Bosket Jr. was born was at the time not an exception. This is especially the case when considers the fact that Bosket Jr. and his parents are African American. African Americans were not very far from being economically empowered in the 1970s. Even with the current situation where the world thinks the African American has been adequately or relatively empowered, the poverty rate for African Americans still greatly surpass the national average. For instance, in 2010, 27.4% of African Americans are still poor, compared to 9.8% Caucasian whites and 12.1% who are Asians (Agnew and Timothy, 2011). With the aforementioned case of disparity of fortunes among races, the African American race is more predisposed to think that systems are biased against it, and easily resort to crime, as a way of earning a living. This is the very reason Willie Sr. shot dead two people in a Milwaukee shop, immediately Bosket Jr. was conceived. As a matter of fact, the coinciding of Bosket’s birth with Willie’s crime may indicate the possibility of financial distress on the side of Willie Sr. (Fox, 2008) Bosket is not an exception to the dictates of strain theory. All the three acts of murder he committed, he did when on a robbing spree. For instance, in his murder of Mr. Noel Perez, he was attempting a robbery near 148 Street’s last stop. When he shot Moises Perez, he was also trying another robbery in train number 3, which was parked at 145 Street station. In his third act of murder where he shot dead an employee at a Lenox Terminal Yard, he was trying to rob the NYC Subway. In this case, it is clear that Bosket’s serious crimes were economically-catalyzed. Had Bosket hailed from a middle income earning, he probably would not have committed the three murders. Secondly, the strain theory has it that the unequal and inadequate socioeconomic structures subject an individual to frictions and pains as he attempts to meet his needs. This means that Bosket may have also committed these crimes out of these pains and frictions. Solutions to how Bosket’s life of delinquency It is true that Bosket’s could have been avoided and that he was not destined for a life of crime. The best way to handle Bosket’s problem was for the juvenile authorities to counsel Mrs. Laura (Bosket’s mother) into a responsible parent and then empower economically, so that she can ably take care of Bosket. Bosket should have also been placed under intensive counseling and rehabilitative care. Social learning theory According to Agnew and Timothy (2011), social learning theory postulates that people learn and acquire traits within the context of the society. This postulation may be applicable since Bosket had not only been sired and partly raised by Willie Sr. who was a murderer, but Willie Sr. also derived a lot of admiration from Bosket. Secondly, Harlem, the environment from which Bosket hailed, is crime-riddled and could have catalyzed Bosket’s predisposition to crime. Solutions to how Bosket’s life of delinquency Bosket’s case should have been solved first by counseling and rehabilitating Bosket, so that his mind can be decriminalized. Secondly, the most sustainable solution can be realized by ensuring adequate and equitable distribution and distributive systems of socioeconomic values. This should be followed up with the empowering of the policing system in Harlem. Control theory Proponents of the social control theory make proposition that the exploitation of the processes of social learning and socialization foster self-control and abates the propensity to engage in antisocial behavior. This theory somewhat explains Bosket’s predisposition towards crime, since his education and socialization as powerful tools of acculturation could have dissuaded him from a life of crime and steered him instead to safer and more helpful solutions to his socioeconomic setbacks. Secondly, education and socialization could have made Bosket more conscious of the repercussions of leading a criminal life. Solutions to how Bosket’s life of delinquency This theory does not adequately explain Bosket’s situation. Crime exists even in the most equal, educationally and socio-economically refined societies. Secondly, it is clear that other factors such as an unstable family (a careless mother and an absentee father) play a critical role in fostering Bosket’s criminality. Nevertheless, this theory remains helpful when education is adequately and equitably distributed among all races, particularly, the African American race. The educational curriculum should also be revisited to conscientize children on the need to be law abiding citizens and patriots. Labeling theory This theory holds that criminality is not an inherent act, but is instead catalyzed by the majority’s acts of labeling of the minorities as deviants. The import of this is that Bosket may have lived in a society where his family or the African American society was being stereotyped as an inherently deviant community. The veracity of this may be underscored by the fact that Harlem has been being traditionally populated by the African American community. Likewise, in the 1970s (Bosket’s criminal acts are carried out in 1978), racism and racial profiling (a form of stereotyping) was still more pronounced. Solutions to how Bosket’s life of delinquency This problem can best be solved by reshaping the educational curriculum to bring about a syllabus which is friendlier to social cohesion. It also is fit that there is equitable distribution of socioeconomic values so that one race is not predisposed to crime than others. The police force should also be racially balanced. Conclusion In all these four theories, the strain theory best explains Bosket’s life of juvenile delinquency. This is because there is a direct and inextricably close relationship between the management and distribution of certain social structures and criminality. This is to the effect that poor, inadequate or unequal distribution of socioeconomic structures is bound to leave one subculture more disadvantaged than others. Likewise, societies where socioeconomic structures are well managed, adequately and equitably distributed have lower rates of crimes, as the gap between the rich and the poor is attenuated. References Agnew, R. and Timothy B. (2011). Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Control. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fox, B. (2008). All God’s Children: The Bosket Family and the American Tradition of Violence. New York: Vintage/ Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. Read More