Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example

Juvenile delinquency al Affiliation) Juvenile delinquency Strain theory s that individual will mostly turn to criminal behavior in order for them to accomplish what he needs. Community has impact on the development of children. Within the community, there are strains and stress that face the children, which will lead to crime. The theory explains that certain stressors and strains in a person are likely to increase the chances of him committing a crime (Kupchik, 2006). These strains may include inability to achieve a goal, presentation of negative stimuli e.g. through verbal abuse. Individuals experiencing thus stress and strains become upset and turn into crimes in order to cope with the situations. They involve themselves in criminal activities to escape or reduce the stress. This theory makes sense because juveniles are exposed to strong socialization processes that may influence stresses in their success path. Thus, some people mostly from disadvantaged low realize that they can achieve their success and ambition in illegitimate. In the recent world, competition on resources like education, money, good jobs is present. For one to acquire all this they need to be the cream in every aspect, because of this strain and stress presents itself (Shoemaker, 2009). Those who cannot stand to the degree of competition and strain will mostly turn to criminal behavior in order for them to accomplish what he needs. This is mostly because the individual has no choice to accomplish his/her goal in a legitimate way This theory is interesting because it explains why different individual join gangs. Strains lead to emergence of gangs cults within the youths so that they may feel welcomed and at home. Gangs and groups are formed due to group reaction of social strain to opportunity and blocked success (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2006). Individuals with the same kind of strain and stress will usually come together and form gangs and groups to help them work out of their stress. These groups end up committing crime and delinquent behaviors. Crime in urban society is because of non-uniform values, standards, and customs of different groups. Strains most conducive crimes include the inability to achieve monetary goals and success. Everyone in the society regardless of position, class is encouraged to strive and achieve monetary goals and success (Kupchik, 2006). When this is happening the individuals at lower class are frequently disadvantaged and prevented from achieving success. Mostly the parents of these low class children do not equip their children with means and skills for them to perform well in schools. Individuals from low class attend inferior schools and they mostly lack funds for them to join colleges. As a result, these individuals get themselves not achieving their set goals and success through the right ways. This blockage of achieving goals creates frustration in them. They cope with stress through involving themselves with criminal activities like drug peddling and stealing. However, other individuals do not cope with stress and strains through crime activities (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2006). Some of the individuals will be hard and endure the stress, others will lower their need to have money and achieve goals. The strain theory will explain why other individuals cope with this stress. This theory relates to juvenile delinquency because it explains why juvenile gangs and individuals are created in the society. In our society the main strain and stress is the inability of individuals and children to achieve their monetary success. Thus, this juvenile’s end up forming groups and gangs. Other stress and strains that make crime conducive are the various numbers of goals they pursue from studies to popularity among their peers. In ability of them achieving any of this goals will result to delinquency (Healey, 2008). Strain may also result due to loss of positive stimuli and presentation of negative stimuli. This occurs when an individual losses something good and is served by something bad in return. The theory states that strain will lead to crime when it is of high magnitude, the strain is perceived as unjust, when it associated with low social control and when it creates pressure to engage in criminal activity. Factor like homelessness is conducive to crime. Homeless ness is high in magnitude, perceived as unjust and creates a pressure for one to engage in crime. Mostly they will steal to cope with their basic needs and engage in violence to protect themselves (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2006). Some of the strains that will lead to crime in juvenile include factors like parental rejection where parents show no support or love and little inters to their children. This causes frustration to children as they grow up. The second factor is excessive and unfair discipline of young children. Children from such environment will grow up with hatred. The third strain that will result to crime is child abuse and neglect ion. This includes sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglecting of children need like food, medical care, and shelter. A negative school experience is the fourth factor. Negative relationship with teachers and fellow students will lead to delinquent activities. Low grade in schools and perception of school as boring and waste of time will result to delinquent behavior in juvenile. The fifth strain is abusive peers and social surroundings. Insults, physical assaults, and threats from peers cause frustration in children resulting to crimes. The sixth factors is working in bad jobs that has low pay, few benefits that cannot meet an individual’s needs result to delinquent behavior and crime. Unemployment and homelessness in children is a strain that will lead to crime activities (Kupchik, 2006). Programs for controlling delinquent behavior Basing on the theory the first thing that needs to be done is eradicating of poverty. Eradication of poverty will reduce social problems like crime in our society. War on poverty was inspired by strain theory. Programs that will help young people achieve and accomplish their monetary goals and success through a legal manner. Providing jobs, training, and education to the young people will help prevent them from involving in delinquent activities(Shoemaker, 2009). The theory state that cause of crime is negative school experiences therefore providing education will help the young people know how to engage in positive self-appraisal activities, control aggression, and deal with conflicts The theory suggests certain strategies and programs to help cop up with crime that arise due to strain. The strategies are aimed at reducing the exposure of children to strains that are conducive to crime. The strategy is also aimed at reducing the likelihood the likelihood that juvenile will cope with strain through crime. The theory state that cause of crime is lack of means and way where individuals can release their stress. Programs should be set up that will help reduce the possibility that individuals respond to strain through crime. A program that will help improve the degree of individuals to cope with strains should be set up (Healey, 2008). Juveniles should be taught social skills and problem-solving skills that will help them implement legal methods in dealing with strains. They can be taught how to respond when they are abused or insulted by peers. Ways of managing anger and frustration should also be taught. Juveniles may also be provided with high level of social support. Thy can be assigned mentorship programs which will assist them to cope with strains. The government can come in and set up programs that will help people cop up with strains like long-term homelessness and unemployment. Steps can also be created to increase the level of social control in individuals like parent training. Programs that will help reduce juvenile association with criminal peers. Programs that will alter beliefs about drug abuse when coping with stress. Youth development activities and recreation are encouraged in various countries to keep the young children busy and free from bad companies. Recreation activities like basketball programs should be highly encouraged. This will help prevent engaging in crime (Kupchik, 2006). References Burfeind, J., & Bartusch, D. (2006). Juvenile delinquency. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Healey, J. (2008). Juvenile crime. Thirroul, N.S.W.: Spinney Press. Kupchik, A. (2006). Judging juveniles. New York: New York University Press. Shoemaker, D. (2009). Juvenile delinquency. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Read More