Child Neglect, Abuse and Its Impact on Juvenile Delinquency - Research Paper Example

Child Neglect, abuse And Its Impact on Juvenile Delinquency Introduction Child abuse and neglect is an ever-increasing problem in the US. Statistics reveal an increase in child abuse and neglect cases every year. A recent research in 2009 indicated that more than 2.9 million cases of abuse cases were reported to the police and child support lines. It is in no doubt the unreported cases are more than this number. Child neglect had the highest cases, followed by physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Although physical abuse of children is the leading killer with at least four children dying per day, child abuse is more than what the eyes can see the bruises, and broken bones. The unseen types of child abuse are more destructive and make lifetime scars on the victims. This paper is a discussion on cases of child abuse, child negligence, and its effects on juvenile delinquency. The risk factors for child abuse and neglect are families with domestic violence, untreated mental illness cases, alcohol and drug abuse, and lack of parenting skills. Federal law on child abuse and prevention Act (CAPTA) defines child abuse and neglect as, “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, severe physical or emotional harm, or sexual abuse” (Child welfare web). Some myths depict that, for an action to amount to a child abuse, it must be cruel and only done by dishonest persons to the child. This is not always the case since other types of injury are invisible and do not include any violence. Additionally, some parents find themselves caught up with acts of violence due to mental and personal problems. Another myth is that child abuse does not occur in respectable families. The truth is that child abuse happens across all tribes, cultures, and economic status including reasonable, bad, and poor neighbourhoods. The following is some forms of child abuse. The first and serious category of child abuse is neglect. Statistics show that of all the child abuse cases reported every year, over 60 % of these cases are of minor neglect. Child negligence is a failure of the parent or a caregiver to bear a child’s basic needs. They may take the form of physical needs like food and shelter, medical needs, educational needs, and emotional needs. Additionally, child negligence result when a child is left alone to suffer from pain and damage from the harsh conditions of the surroundings without any communication from the parents. In such a case, the caregiver’s name and their whereabouts remain unknown. Negligence as a form of child abuse can also be of the form of child exposure to hazardous drugs, selling drugs to a minor, use of drugs that inhibit the caregiver to take care of a child’s needs among others (Child welfare web). Secondly, physical abuse is very popular to many because the injuries inflicted on minors are visible. Few times, it is the deliberate attempt to harm the child. In most other times, it happens as the caregiver is instilling discipline. The effects of using sharp objects include bruises, broken bones, and damaged skin that harm the child physically. These amounts to child abuse and render the caregiver guilty of the offence whether they intended it or not. Thirdly, sexual abuse is an action that either exposes a child to sexually explicit materials or includes correspondence with the child’s genitals. Examples of physical abuse include penetration, fondling, prostitution, incest, rape, and sodomy. Lastly, the most ignored child abuse because of its invisible characteristic is emotional abuse. According to help guide website, “emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social development, leaving lifelong emotional scars” (Sais an, et al Web). This implies that emotional abuse can have a lifelong impact on children especially considering the fact that it occurs when the children are under cognitive development. A child is emotionally abused when belittled, humiliated, insulted, or given negative comparison to others. Frequent yelling at a child, showing no attachment to the child, and silent treatment all mean emotional abuse. A strong relationship connects abused children to juvenile delinquency. Juvenile delinquency or juvenile crime is one performed by minor or persons under 18 years old. It would amount into a crime if an adult did it. According to child welfare website, abused and neglected children rated 11 times more likely to be arrested for criminal activities as a minor (Child Welfare web). Child abuse and negligence in itself affects the growth of a child in that it hinders the expected growth of a child either emotionally, or socially. The physical scars on minors are a daily reminder of their painful past that does not let them live a peaceful life. According to a research finding by Lipsey et al: Boys who were neglected in childhood tended to belong to disadvantaged families, exhibit more problem behaviors at home and at school, and have more limited cognitive abilities. In other words, these neglected boys were characterized by a variety of adverse childhood factors placing them at risk for delinquency. Second, our findings indicate that childhood neglect dramatically increased the odds of being convicted of an offense as an adolescent (OR = 4.35) and significantly predicted self-reported offending. (Lipsey et al 77). It is also important to note that good upbringing exposes children to academic, social, and other life opportunities that are essential for life. However, children who are abused or neglected hardly get these chances in life. Consequently, the children will result to juvenile delinquency as they try to utilize the only available opportunities. This is because the only opportunities available to them are criminal in nature. For instance, in search for a living, neglected children are likely to be involved in pickpocketing, mugging, robbery or other forms of minor crimes. With time, they may develop into hardcore criminals (Lipsey et al 77. Quite damaging is their emotional scars that damage a child dignity, functionality, and performance. Psychological consequences of child abuse play a crucial role in juvenile delinquency. This is because it leads to poor mental and emotional conditions that result to psychiatric cases of 80% of children who have gone through child abuse. In addition, abused children find it difficult to communicate with their peers, who they perceive as offensive. They fail to adhere to the norms now that they cannot trust their caregivers. Therefore, abused children may result to drugs as they try to forget the cruel past or even present. They cannot relate to others because they do not understand what a healthy relationship is. In most times, they find themselves in the wrong companies as they seek recognition thereby finding themselves in juvenile delinquency courts (Sais an, et al. web). Equally, children who are frequently abused may tend to become violent as they try to mirror the actions of the abuser. Sadly, child abuse occur at the most vulnerable stage where the children are supposed to be developing their cognitive function. Development of morals and social ethics becomes compromised. Actually, abused children are likely to miss school consequently increasing chances of juvenile delinquency. This happens as minors look for ways to spend their free time and cater for their wants. According to Roberts, “Leaving school early reduces the likelihood that juveniles will improve the social skills that are gained in school, such as learning to meet deadlines, following instructions, and being able to deal constructively with their peers” (Roberts web). Compared to other children, abused and neglected children achieve less in cognitive capacity, language development, and academic achievement. Criminal activities are popular with such children. At times, we have heard cases where children fed up with sexual abuse and other kind of abuses ran away from their supposedly caregivers. According to Oregon website, persons involved in sexually abuse of children depend on various methods to “quieten” up the children they have abused (Oregon web). They tell the child that it is for their own good and often indicate to the child that they will cease to provide for them if they report the abuse. Tired of all this, abused children often go away from their supposedly caregivers. Unfortunately, unaware of the children help care providers and the law that protects them, they end up on the streets where they do all kinds of crimes. Sexually abused girls often are entrapped in prostitution since they no longer see the importance of sexual dignity. Rules do not allow minors to participate in commercial sex, and the long arm of the law finally catches on them, charges them on juvenile delinquency, and locks them in jail. The exposure of children to illegal activities tends to provide a significant chance for them to follow the same. For instance, exposing a child to the sale of drugs or alcohol predisposes them to do the same in the near future for themselves. This is a form of child abuse. This indulgence in illegal activities will make them end up in juvenile delinquency courts. Additionally, children who have gone through emotional abuse result in vengeance. They put the blame of failure on their caregivers and may even kill or hurt them. Such will end up in juvenile courts for correction. Widom concurs with this and argues that early child abuse and neglect increased risk of arrest as a minor by 55% and increased risk of being arrested for violent actions by 96% (Widom 2) Conclusion Juvenile delinquency has roots in child abuse. Children, who happen to be abused sexually, emotionally, physically, or through negligence, normally have some psychological problems that expose them to juvenile delinquency. These problems often compromise the child’s social, emotional, intellectual, and cognitive development hindering exceptional performance. These factors are therefore predisposes the children to juvenile delinquency. However, good social and family upbringing can help reduce cases of juvenile delinquency. Children who are brought up in the right way socially, emotionally, and intellectually are more likely to be good citizens as they grow up. Works Cited Child Welfare “What is Child Abuse and Neglect?”2008. Web, 26, May 2012 Lipsey, M W et al. “Juvenile delinquency treatment: A meta-analytic inquiry into the variability of effects.” Metaanalysis for explanation A casebook 1992 : 83-127. Print. Oregon. “What is child abuse and neglect?” 2007. Web, 26 May 2012. Roberts, Cynthia. “Juvenile delinquency: Cause and effect.” Yale. 2012. Web, 26 May 2012. Sais an, Joanna et al. “Child Abuse and Neglect.” Help Guide. 2012. Web, 26 May 2012. Widom, Cathy. “Understanding Child Maltreatment and Juvenile Delinquency: The Research.” Cwla. 2003. Web, 26 May 2012. Read More