Juveniles and the Legal Process
Juvenile crime is a problem that affects every society. In 2010, around 500,000 juveniles were arrested for drug abuse violations in the U.S. Some of the crimes committed by juveniles are robbery, vandalism, assault, and homicide. Some organizations have tried to help the teenagers to stop the vice because it is an issue affecting the entire community. In most states, the Juvenile Law determines the upper age-old eligibility. However, in some cases like violations or abuse, most states extend jurisdiction through 20 years. There are many reasons why juveniles engage in crimes. It has been shown that dangerous juvenile behaviors originate from domestic violence, family breakdown, and lack of parental moral supervision and guidance. One of the vital causes of juvenile delinquency is broken families. In fact, the separation of parents affects the behavior and psychology of children starting from early infancy. It is true that break-up of parents is a challenging experience for any young children (Carmen and Chad 15).
Additionally, being brought up by a single mother also implies that children are not taken care of as quickly and fully as other kids. It may result in physical and emotional stress that later enhances the risk of an emotionally distant parent-child relationship. Eventually, adverse effects like a kid's disorientation, disappointment, criminal delinquency, and stubbornness may follow it. Domestic violence is another cause of teenage delinquency. It is true that parental conflicts can create a hurtful feeling of children. The more intense and frequent conflicts are, and the more children are hurt emotionally. As a result, they become depressed and withdrawn. Gradually, these children develop hostility, mental disorder, and aggression towards outsiders. All these factors are against virtuous action and behavior. They mark the beginning of criminal delinquency (Elrod and Ryder 28).
Schools are among the safest areas for young people. Therefore, school administrators must take action improve potentially violent situations. Establishing a safe school demands various preventive measures for emotional and mental problems, including identification of warning signs for these conditions. Before recommending some interventions or treatments for risky behaviors, students requiring the help should be identified and referred appropriately. There are emotional and behavioral warning signs that can...
Identification of these warning signs offers a tool to address the child's needs (Leverich 56). When the following signs are evident, safety will be the first and foremost consideration.
Severe property destruction
Serious physical fights with family members and peers
Serious rage for minor reasons
Threats of suicide or self-injurious behavior
Threats of lethal violence and Use or possession of firearms and other weapons (Welsh and Siegel 23)
These warning signs could be used to help design intervention strategies. Intervention strategies for students who are at risk of violence include positive reinforcement and implementation of a social support system:
Offering comprehensive services
Teaching positive skill of interaction
Referring the student for exceptional education evaluation
Offering rigorous, individualized intervention for children with severe behavioral issues
Giving a foundation to reduce and prevent violent behavior
A gang is a minority composed of various youth who share similar minority status, economic background, and family situations. Juveniles may join gangs for some or all of the following reasons:
Their family members or friends belong to a gang
Forced to join
Presence of gangs in the neighborhood
Desire for status, recognition and power
New experiences and excitement
To generate income and increase their material possession
Rebellion against parents
An opportunity to belong and be accepted
The most prevalent approach of managing gangs is gang intervention programs. The aim of intervention programs id to rehabilitate, reform, and divert gang members away from gang into more acceptable activities. Basic intervention programs use street outreach, community mobilization, and provision of opportunities. Community programs empower residents, both politically and socially. Once empowered and active members of the community, they bond and become attached to social institutions within the surrounding, like church or schools (Hoge and Andrews 11).
Teenagers are reaping the benefits of outreach programs. The aim of these programs is to build the highest character ideals and promote healthy and positive growth of the youth. However, some…
