Increasing youth crime: what works in the fight against it?

Juvenile delinquency is not a new problem, but states are failing to address it

What is meant by juvenile delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency is one of the most serious challenges that modern societies face. It is a term used to define the phenomenon, which includes any illegal behavior performed by a minor person, and is therefore punishable under the applicable state laws. In most cases, the parents or guardians of the minor must pay a fine for any damage caused by the person. However, imprisonment is also possible, provided that a serious offense -such as murder- has been committed.

Juvenile delinquency remains a huge unsolved social problem, with catastrophic consequences for both victims and perpetrators. No matter how many laws are passed or how many educational/social policies are designed, no state can claim with certainty that it has tackled the problem to its full extent. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the root causes of this form of social deviance in order to find effective long-term solutions.

Major factors contributing to juvenile delinquency

Juvenile delinquency is a multifaceted problem, and that is the main reason why it remains a persistent problem to this day. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the key risk factors that contribute to it in order to understand its complex nature and then design and implement effective policies to eliminate it. The most important of these are:

1. Peer pressure: Teenagers are very vulnerable to it because they are in the adolescent stage where their cognitive functions and personality are still developing. As they try to integrate into a group, their beliefs are easily influenced by their peers who encourage them to join gangs.
2. Financial instability: Minors who experience economic insecurity use crime to meet their demands that would otherwise not be met. Examples of this include stealing items they need but cannot afford, such as clothing, smartphones, money, and food.
3. Influence of Social Media: The internet is a useful tool when used properly, but it can also harm minors by promoting and normalizing violence. Teens become addicted to social media platforms and try to replicate the scenes depicted on them in real time.
4. Domestic Violence: When children and teens are exposed to domestic violence, they build up resentment and anger that they cannot control. Emotional instability leads to mental health problems, which in turn results in angry outbursts at school and with their peers and can escalate to crime.
5. Neglectful Parents/Guardians: The attitude and personality of a minor is largely influenced by the attitude of their parents/guardians. This means that if they neglect their child and avoid setting boundaries to teach them about legal and illegal acts, there is a high chance that the minor will commit a crime without knowing or facing the gravity of his actions.

The United Kingdom is an example of a country where the problem has still not been solved, despite the decline in the number of children brought before the courts.

UK Government Statistics – 2022

Types of juvenile delinquents

According to Howard Becker (1966), juvenile delinquency can be divided into four categories:

• individual
• Group Supported
• organized
• situational

On the one hand, individual delinquency arises from psychological problems that mainly arise from defective interaction patterns within the family. The offender acts alone, driven by disappointment with himself and his life, and uses crime to express his emotional state.

On the other hand, the group-supported type is the opposite, as it is committed to the company of other delinquents. The delinquent’s home, neighborhood, and society structure play an important role, as the minor is motivated to commit such acts by others who are already delinquent.

Compared to the previous two types, organized delinquency refers to formally established, organized groups that have established specific values ​​and norms that guide the behavior of youth and lead them to engage in illegal acts.

Last but not least, situational delinquency is not deeply ingrained compared to the other types mentioned above, and the means to control it are often relatively simple. These acts are committed because the individual has poorly developed impulse control and has relatively little to lose if caught.

Recommendations to combat juvenile delinquency

When it comes to juvenile delinquency, prevention is the most appropriate remedy, which means that intervention should be made at an early stage. At this point, designing and implementing human-centered educational policies is considered necessary to prevent minors from getting involved in heinous acts.

By analyzing the root causes of the problem, governments can use this information as a guideline to provide professionals, schools, and law enforcement agencies with the right orientation and training on how to deal with cases of abnormal social behavior before they turn into crime. Therefore, educating minors about crime and why it is better to stay away from it is essential to reduce the occurrence of such incidents. The goal here is purely reformist rather than criminal justice, as severe punishment is not a guaranteed way to ensure that juvenile delinquency can be eradicated.

In addition, addressing the signs of maladjustment in a child is another method of addressing juvenile delinquency. This can be done by implementing meaningful social policies that focus on rehabilitating, adjusting, and reconditioning the individual in society. Implementing community programs to create a stable system of moral and social values, with an emphasis on rejecting illegal behavior without rejecting the delinquent, can be especially helpful. Openly talking to the children, teens, and parents/guardians about the existence of antisocial tendencies and improving their living conditions can make a big difference in addressing and solving the problem.

Final thoughts

No one is born a criminal and there is no evidence that tougher legal frameworks can help reduce juvenile delinquency. Instead, by raising public awareness and encouraging the active participation of civil society to address this troubling rift in society, national governments can mitigate it more effectively than simply voting on tougher legislation.

Parents/guardians and teachers play a decisive role in educating and shaping the mind of a child. They should focus on providing a scope of rectification rather than labeling them as delinquents for life. Giving opportunities to correct their misbehavior and understanding its consequences is essential to improve not only themselves but also the society itself.

This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be used as a substitute for unbiased facts or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.

© 2024 Konstantina Tzima