Family Conditions And Child Treatment - Research Paper Example

?Family Conditions And Child Treatment Influence Juvenile Delinquency Juvenile delinquency is a perpetual problem in United s and other parts ofthe world. According to Afrey (2007, p.2), 2.18 million juvenile arrests were made in 2007 alone. There are basically 2 types of offenses and they are criminal law violation for an adult and status offenses like running away and truancy. 95 percent of the juvenile offenses are of criminal type (Afrey, p.2) and are dangerous not only to the adolescent but also to others. Several factors play a major role in the development of delinquent behavior in individuals. Of these, the environment in which the child is reared has been considered to be significant in the development of criminal behavior in the child in future. In this regard, family functioning and structure, and child maltreatment has been though to be influential in the development of juvenile behavior. This aspect will be discussed in this essay through review of suitable literature. Several researchers and thinkers have opined that the strongest predictor for criminal delinquent behaviour in children and adolescents is the functioning of the family. In this, the focus is mainly on practices of the parents with regard to monitoring and discipline. There is evidence to suggest that poor disciplinary methods and lack of monitoring by the parents are associated violent, criminal delinquent behaviour in children and this is irregardless of socioeconomic strata and ethnicity. Thus, it is very important for parents to be involved with their children and monitor their functioning and whereabouts so that consistent and effective discipline can be enforced (Gorman-Smith, p.170). Other than parental monitoring, there are also several other aspects of family functioning that influence the behaviour and thinking of the child and they are family relation characteristics like beliefs, cohesion and organisational structure. Studies have shown that low emotional warmth, lack of proper organisational structure, low beliefs and low cohesion levels are associated with delinquent behaviour (Gorman-Smith, p.170). More often than not, juvenile delinquents are individuals who come from broken home background (Siegel, p.74). These children either reside in single-parent households or in any other household in which their biological parents are not there. Intact family may be defined as a nuclear family arrangement in which both biological parents reside in the household with their biological children (Kierkus & Baer, 2002; cited in Murray, p.88). Two-parent arrangement in which a step parent is present, single-parent arrangements, extended family member arrangements and foster family arrangements do not fall under intact family. Association between broken homes and juvenile delinquency was studied as early as 1932 by Shaw and McKay (cited in Murray, p.88). These researchers reviewed literature pertaining to type of homes and delinquents and compared delinquents from intact homes and disrupted homes. In their review they opined that most of the studies pertaining to these had several limitations and that several other factors other than intactness of homes influenced development of juvenile behaviour. Research from that period has questioned the influence of family intactness on development of juvenile delinquency. According to a recent study by Demuth and Brown (2000, cited in Murray, p.88), though broken homes are strongly associated with juvenile delinquency, the family arrangement are not just the broken home issue. This is because; there is enough evidence to suggest that the risk of juvenile delinquency is higher among teenagers residing with single fathers when compared to those residing in a 2-parent household. This probably is because of the decreased parental involvement in the former case. The researchers opined that the main factors which contributed to delinquency were lack of supervision from parent's side and absence of close relationship between the adolescent and his or her parents. Geismar and Wood (1986; cited in Murray, p.89) examined the structural and functional family variables influencing delinquency behaviour. The structural factors which were examined were number of individuals in the family, family arrangements and mother's employment status. Functional factors include interactions among family members, relationship among family members, familial problems, monitoring of children by parents and consistency of discipline. From this research, it was evident that both structural and functional variables influenced juvenile delinquency. The researchers opined that residing in a positive atmosphere leads to positive effects on the child and decreases the risk of juvenile delinquent behaviour. Several other characteristics and types of family environments have been found to influence juvenile delinquent behaviour and these include number of people in the family, consistency of parenting, problems in the family, neglect and abuse of children and attachment of the child to the parents. According to Thornberry (1987; cited in Murray, p.90), "children?s attachment to their parents influences youths more when they are younger primarily because children, as opposed to teenagers, are monitored more closely." Several policymakers and researchers regard juvenile delinquency as one of the most critical social issues in the world. The rise in the number of juvenile delinquency cases has triggered interest from various corners in juvenile delinquency and the factors which contribute to it (Murray, p.87). Developmental-ecological model is an useful theory to explain the interaction of family towards development of juvenile delinquency in a child. According to Bronfen-brenner (cited in Gorman-Smith, p.169), development of an individual is influenced by several qualities of the social setting in which the individual lives, interacts and participates. This aspect is the central tenet of the developmental-ecological model. This theory presumes that major developmental influences like family functioning are dependent on various sociological characteristics of the community in which the child and his families reside. Thus, it is critical to understand the characteristics of the neighbourhood that attempt to understand the impact of characteristics of family on the risk and development of the child. According to Gorman-Smith (p.170), lack of consideration of various community related variations can result in inaccurate risk models that are either oversimplistic or inappropriate. According to Gorman-Smith (p.174), there are basically four nonoverlapping groups of patterns that characterize the involvement and risk of urban adolescents. These are: 1. Nonoffenders: 20 percent of adolecents fall under this group. These individuals are aggressive and show some fighting behaviours, but are not delinquent. Those from this category are likely to come from families which have minor family problems like marital discord, arguments between parents and financial tensions (Gorman-Smith, p.174). 2. Chronic minor offenders: 34 percent of offenders fall into this category. these individuals are consistently involved in minor offenses, the offenses are not of serious nature (Gorman-Smith, p.174). 3. Escalators: 12 percent of offenders fall into this group. These individuals develop delinquent behaviour later in life, but their offenses escalate to violence and serious offenses within one year (Gorman-Smith, p.174). 4. Serious chronic offenders: 28 percent of offenders are of this category. These individuals are associated with violent and serious offense. Individuals belonging to this category are likely to come from families with deviant behaviour and beliefs (Gorman-Smith, p.175). The families have multiple problems including abuse and disruption. The social reaction theory states that "society is primarily responsible for juveniles exhibiting delinquent behaviors" (Murray, p.90). According to this theory, "rules are set up by the members of a society, and those individuals establish what is considered the norm. Violators of the norm are labeled deviant or abnormal. The ways in which society chooses to deal with violators of the norms influence whether or not juveniles exposed to the juvenile justice system will be more prone to being chronic offenders (Mahoney, 1974; cited in Murray, p.90).Parents monitor children and nurture them and loosening of bonds among members of the family has been associated with juvenile delinquency. Gove and Crutchfield (p.301) examined the association between various family variables and juvenile delinquency. The variables which were examined were poor parental characteristics, family structure, household characteristics and parent-child relationships. Of these variables, the strongest predictor of delinquency was attachment variable, which when disrupted was found to be strongly associated with development of juvenile delinquency. According to McLoyd (1990; cited in Thornberry, p.75), "economic hardship and lack of access to opportunity and resources undermine marital and parental functioning and that poverty has had a particularly adverse impact on the initiation and stability of marriages among families of color." One interesting finding in the study by Gove and Crutchfield (p.301) was that there exists a difference in the variable that predicted male delinquency when compared to delinquency among females. While characteristics of the marriage of the parents influenced boys, parent-child interaction and parental control were the variables that influenced females. According to Thornberry (p.74), there does exist a consistent relationship between the number of transitions in the family and risk of juvenile delinquency and drug abuse. Multiple family transitions have more derogatory effect on the child than single transition. Teenagers with ongoing stress have difficulties in managing have difficulties in managing emotions like anger and this contributes to involvement in delinquent behaviour. Child maltreatment is associated with several negative outcomes, one of which is juvenile delinquency (Stouthamer-Loeber, p. 261) . Several reviews in literature have found a strong association between child abuse and delinquency consequences. Later research studies have reported that victims of child abuse and neglect were more likely to exhibit delinquency and be arrested for the same when compared to controls. One interesting fact is that both child maltreatment and juvenile delinquency are associated with several family problems and negative interactive styles of the parents with their offsprings. There is evidence in literature that parental stress, poor parenting skills, low interaction between parents and children, young parents, poverty, criminal behaviour among parents, mental health problems among parents and low levels of parental education are associated with delinquency in children (Stouthamer-Loeber, p. 262). Similar factors have been identified with regard to maltreatment of children and some such factors include young motherhood, parental stress, low empathy from the parent's side, lack of positive involvement, unstable environment at home, low parental education, substance abuse among parents and criminal or mental health problems among parents (Stouthamer-Loeber, p. 262). Different experts have considered different ways in which various family factors and child abuse lead to delinquency. Though in many circumstances, child maltreatment and adverse family environment go hand in hand, several experts have hypothesised the fact that maltreatment leads to delinquency even in the absent of adverse family factors (Musick, p.34). An alternative hypothesis is that adverse family factors are shared by both delinquency and child maltreatment and that knowledge about various adverse family factors explains the cause for delinquency whereas knowledge of maltreatment does not further contribute to this. Some experts have opined that family, behavioural and social context variables explain partly the association between juvenile delinquency and child maltreatment. These alternative hypothesis merit importance because; reduction in various negative family factors can reduce both maltreatment and delinquency (Stouthamer-Loeber, p. 262). Stouthamer-Loeber et al (p.260) examined data from longitudinal inner-city community sample to ascertain the prevalence of child maltreatment among boys and associate this with persistent and serious delinquent behaviour with onset in early years of life. This study revealed that by the age 13, 20 percent of the families which were studies were referred for maltreatment to the Children and Youth Services. More than 50 percent of boys who were maltreated developed persistent serious delinquency. When the sample of maltreated boys were matched aginst controls, taking care of race, age and neighbourhood, it was evident that demographic handicaps and some family interactions were related to both maltreatment and persistent juvenile delinquency. At the same time, it was found that when family and demographic factors were accounted for, being maltreated had an independent association with persistent juvenile delinquency and this was moderated by family demographic factors. According to Afrey (p.5), "the potential for future juvenile delinquency among youths can be significantly diminished by providing parents and juveniles with skills for relationship-strengthening, personal growth and family enhancement." It is very important to consider relationship between structure of the family and juvenile delinquency. When compared to married households, single-parent families are often vulnerable. The economic circumstances of single-parent families draw these families into stressful neighbourhoods. According to Johnson (1986; cited in Afrey, p5), children from single-parent homes are are treated in different manner when compared to those from married homes, by courts, school officials, police and others. Those children who grow up with two biological parents who are attentive and involved and are associated in a healthy and low-conflict marriage are more likely to experience overall sense of well being and are less likely to be involved in juvenile behaviour. Strong family values and positive families have sustained impact on reducing substance abuse, delinquent behaviour, increase in school bonding, improvement in academic performance, avoiding peers who are delinquent, dealing with conduct disorders and decreasing juvenile crime. According to Kumpfer (1999; cited in Afrey, p.5), "interventions designed to reduce family conflict, increase family involvement, and improve parental monitoring have been shown to reduce juvenile substance abuse and crime." Thus, family conditions and child maltreatment have a significant role to play in the development of juvenile delinquency among adolescents. Children brought up in a stressful environment of single parent, poverty, marital discord and disrupted family values and beliefs where the parents are unable to monitor the activities and interactions of the children are likely to develop criminal and delinquent behavior. Works Cited Page Alfrey, Curt. "Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure: Implications for Marriage and Relationship Education." National Healthy Marriage Resource Center, 2011. Web. http://www.healthymarriageinfo.org/docs/juveniledelinquency.pdf 9th April, 2011. Gorman-Smith, Deborah, Patrick Tolan., and David Henry. "A developmental-ecological Model of the Relation of Family Functioning to patterns of Delinquency." 2000. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 16(2), 169- 198. Gove, Walter and Robert Crutchfield. "The family and juvenile delinquency. " The Sociology Quaterly, 1982, 23, 301- 319. Musick, David. "An introduction to the sociology of juvenile delinquency." 1995. Sunny press Murry, Crystal, Jimmy Willimas, Randall Salekin. "Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure: Links to Severity and Frequency of Offending." 2004. The University of Alabama McNair Journal, 87- 98. Stouthamer-Loeber, Magda, Evelyn Wei, Lynn Homish and Rolf Loeber. "Which family and demographic factors are related to both maltreatment and persistent serious juvenile delinquency? Children's services: social policy, research and practice, 2002. 5(4), 261- 272. Siegel, Larry, Brandon Welsh. "Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law" 1996. Wadsworth Publishing Thornberry, Terence, Carolyn A. Smith, Craig Rivera, David Huizinga, and Magda Stouthamer-Loeber. "Family Disruption and Delinquency." 1999. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. U.S. Department of Justice. Read More