The Lack of Strong Parental Figures Causes Juvenile...

The Lack of Strong Parental Figures Causes Juvenile Delinquency Imagine a thirteen-year-old boy living with his mother. His parents have been divorced since he was four-years-old. He has never really known his father and therefore uses his friends for his male role models. His mother has to work two jobs to support her family and is therefore not there to spend much time with her child. This is the type of child that is normally delinquent. Add to this scenario a group of teenage friends that are involved in delinquent activities and it is almost guaranteed that a juvenile delinquent will emerge out of this situation. In an interview that I conducted with a juvenile corrections officer this scenario†¦show more content†¦The only problem with this is that children do not need just a male and female role model in their life; they need a good male and female role model in their life. In this case it is not quantity of role models it is the quality of role models in an individual’s life. The main theory that best supports this inte rview is Hirschi’s social bond theory. This theory suggests that there are four elements of bonding that tie the individual to conventional society and thus prevent delinquency (Bynum and Thompson, 1999: 193). These elements are: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. According to this theory, if all four elements are present in an individual the individual will not commit delinquent acts. Yet if an individual lacks even one of these elements, that individual has a higher likelihood of committing delinquent acts. Hirschi said that there is large variation among individuals in the amount of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in conventional behavior and therefore there is variability in their ability to resist deviant and delinquent conduct (Bynum and Thompson, 1999: 193). He said that delinquents tend to have relatively weak social bonds and consequently feel little remorse for violating generally accepted social standards (Bynum and Thompson). The find ings in a study of four-thousand youths conducted in the cities of Denver,Show MoreRelatedJuvenile System1063 Words   |  5 Pagesdelinquent crimes. Focusing on what spawns delinquency in juveniles today, parenting is essential. During my visit to family court with fellow classmates I was honored to observe real live cases involving teenagers, and their parents. It was obvious that one main issue in the U.S. Juvenile Delinquency system is the lack of family structure. Family and delinquent relationships interconnect, ultimately, resulting to the core of delinquency. The articles â€Å"Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure†, by Anika DoggettRead MoreCauses And Consequences Of Juvenile Delinquency Essay1657 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of Juvenile Delinquency Delinquent behavior has been a serious and expensive problem in American society for a prolonged period of time. Although the delinquency rate has declined, it is still one of the highest in comparison to other countries in the world. Discovering a single cause of juvenile delinquency is difficult, but there is no doubt that a combination of various theories and factors could point researchers in the right direction of establishing a source. Theory and researchRead MoreThe Role Of Parents Absent Homes Are More Frequently Perpetrators Of Crimes1382 Words   |  6 Pagescontributing factors in juvenile delinquency. This research paper will show evidence that adolescents in father absent homes are more frequently perpetrators of crimes. The independent variable is adolescents raised in father absent homes and the dependent variable is how they are more frequently perpetrators of crime. The relationship and attachment a child has with his/her parents is a main contributor as to how the child will behave and develop throughout his/her life. When a father figure is absent inRead MoreThe Death Of South Korea1667 Words   |  7 Pagesto support himself, however, he turned out to be a chronic offender as he got older.† This tragic case basically shows how misdemeanor become a chronic offender. Based on this case, this position paper will figure out the problems which cause juveniles to be chronic offenders and how juveniles could be prevented from becoming chronic offenders. Chronic offender is a delinquent offender who is arrested five or more times before he or she is 18 and who stands a good chance of becoming an adult criminal;Read MoreThe Relationship Between Race and Juvenile Delinquency1965 Words   |  8 PagesThe Relationship Between Race and Juvenile Delinquency Four years now researcher in the fields of psychology sociology, genetics, and the juvenile justice system have contemplated the reason why some youth turn to delinquency and violence. To investigate the reasons, for some adolescents you would have to research on a case to case basis could fall into one category of multiple categories stemming, why they act the way they do and what cause these reactions. Some researchers may want toRead MoreUnderstanding Juvenile Delinquency in the United States2225 Words   |  9 Pages(USDOJJDP, 2011a). Juvenile delinquency is defined by Webster’s dictionary as â€Å"conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action† (â€Å"Juvenile delinquency,† n.d.). A number of jurisdictions have been exerting effort to prevent minor offenders from involvement in the juvenile delinquency system (USDOJJDP, 2011b). Efforts have been made due to the emphasis on detrimental effects of juvenile delinquency and confinement on youthRead MoreEssay on What lies in the future of our youth? 2611 Words   |  11 Pagesneed to take the time to mold today. Youth delinquency is a massively growing problem in the United States today. Youth delinquency â€Å"refers to abnormal social or legal behavior by children or adolescents, for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not all of which can be applied to the causes of youth crime† (Youth Delinquency, 1999 p.1). A youth (juvenile) delinquent is one who repeatedly commits crimeRead MoreThe Role Of Family Structure And Youth Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction News and media outlets have observed an increase in delinquent crimes committed by children under the age of 18. What causes a child to embark on such destructive paths at such young ages? Children are our future; they must be raised well to become the next Einstein, Oprah, Obama and etc. Raising a child starts within the home. Not all families are nuclear families consisting of a mother and father. Some families are single parent families where there is only one parent or even extendedRead MoreThe Effects Of Family Conflict On Boys2803 Words   |  12 Pagesas delinquency. The term has also been used to label those who are engaging in criminal behavior prior to adulthood: juvenile delinquency. Researchers have made numerous attempts to understand why juveniles become delinquent in the first place. Literature Review Ever since the mid-20th century, an ever growing number of divorces and strained family relationships has increased the pressures felt by the children affected by this dilemma, thus increasing the chances of juvenile delinquency. DueRead MoreDifferent Phases Of Normal Human Development3544 Words   |  15 Pagesthat children who grow up in homes where they have a lack of warmth and support, whose parents lack behavior management skills, and whose lives are considered to have conflict or maltreatment will more likely be delinquent. 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