Chapter Three Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders

There are many social factors that increase the risk of a child becoming a delinquent. Family Family Education/School Education/School Social Class Social Class Gang Involvement Gang Involvement Drug use Drug use Age Age Gender Gender Race Race The family is the most important of the social factors that increase the risk of delinquency History of problems/parent criminality Poor supervision of children Poor attachments/bonding Child victimization/maltreatment High rates of family conflict Domestic/Family violence Having a young mother Broken homes Antisocial behavior of siblings Family transitions Poor discipline practices Low education or illiteracy of parents Maternal depression Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders

Today about ¼ of all children live in a house headed by a single parent. About ½ of African American children are brought up in female headed households. Considering that most live in household where a female is the head of the house, and females tend to make less money, then it means most of these children will grow up in poverty. Today about ¼ of all children live in a house headed by a single parent. About ½ of African American children are brought up in female headed households. Considering that most live in household where a female is the head of the house, and females tend to make less money, then it means most of these children will grow up in poverty. Broken homes – strong determinant of delinquency; seems to have greatest effect on middle class boys, females, and whites Broken homes – strong determinant of delinquency; seems to have greatest effect on middle class boys, females, and whites Intrafamily conflict – good predictor of delinquency is to have children rate the happiness of their parents’ marriage! Cause and effect not clear. Do parent’s fighting cause children to act out or does the child acting out cause the family to fight? Some agreement that more damage is actually done when parents who fight often stay together, and those kids are less likely to adjust to life situations. Intrafamily conflict – good predictor of delinquency is to have children rate the happiness of their parents’ marriage! Cause and effect not clear. Do parent’s fighting cause children to act out or does the child acting out cause the family to fight? Some agreement that more damage is actually done when parents who fight often stay together, and those kids are less likely to adjust to life situations. Child abuse is important because it is so closely tied to delinquency. About 70% to 80% of juvenile offenders had abusive backgrounds. Not necessarily causation but correlation, strong correlation. Child abuse is important because it is so closely tied to delinquency. About 70% to 80% of juvenile offenders had abusive backgrounds. Not necessarily causation but correlation, strong correlation.

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Education and schools -- Risk factors for delinquency Low academic achievement Low academic achievement Negative attitudes toward school Negative attitudes toward school Truancy/absences Truancy/absences Suspension Suspension Dropping out of school Dropping out of school Inadequate schools or education (poor teachers) Inadequate schools or education (poor teachers) Labeled as having a learning disability Labeled as having a learning disability Frequent school transitions Frequent school transitions Schools are not always a safe place to be. Although rates are down, there are still about ¾ of a million violent crimes and about one million thefts that occur at school.

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Schools are vastly important to delinquency. There is a high correlation of poor academic achievement to delinquency. Failure in school means student will be behind others his/her age or drop out; those behind or dropping out less likely to find employment or will find low paying employment; problems at this transitional stage can lead to delinquency, acting out, defying authority. Failure lowers self- esteem and delinquents tend to have lower self-esteem. Schools are vastly important to delinquency. There is a high correlation of poor academic achievement to delinquency. Failure in school means student will be behind others his/her age or drop out; those behind or dropping out less likely to find employment or will find low paying employment; problems at this transitional stage can lead to delinquency, acting out, defying authority. Failure lowers self- esteem and delinquents tend to have lower self-esteem. Social class – Findings have been mixed regarding the importance of social class to delinquency. Middle class youth and lower class youth both report fairly similar rates of criminal behavior in regard to self- reported crime. However, some evidence suggests lower class youth tends to commit more serious crimes. After all, there is no need to steal a car if your daddy bought you a nice BMW.

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Lower class youth seem to be more influenced by those around them – criminal subcultures. Criminal subcultures are communities embedded with constant exposure to delinquent and criminal processes coupled with an admiration of criminals. Lower class youth seem to be more influenced by those around them – criminal subcultures. Criminal subcultures are communities embedded with constant exposure to delinquent and criminal processes coupled with an admiration of criminals. Living in this environment makes one more familiar with gangs and drugs. Living in this environment makes one more familiar with gangs and drugs. There is a strong correlation between substance abuse and delinquency. About 2/3 of all kids taking drugs in high school continue as adults. However, drugs may have its greatest toll on homicide rates among juveniles -- killing to get drugs, killing to maintain turf in which drugs are dealt, rival gangs, etc. The pharmacological explanation is that the effects of drugs make one violent, also the costs of drugs make juveniles turn to violent crime to obtain money to purchase drugs, and violence is often a method of expanding a gangs’ territory, or to protect it. There is a strong correlation between substance abuse and delinquency. About 2/3 of all kids taking drugs in high school continue as adults. However, drugs may have its greatest toll on homicide rates among juveniles -- killing to get drugs, killing to maintain turf in which drugs are dealt, rival gangs, etc. The pharmacological explanation is that the effects of drugs make one violent, also the costs of drugs make juveniles turn to violent crime to obtain money to purchase drugs, and violence is often a method of expanding a gangs’ territory, or to protect it. A study in Rochester, NY found that 86% of serious delinquent acts, 69% of violent delinquent acts, and 70% of drug sales were gang-related. A study in Rochester, NY found that 86% of serious delinquent acts, 69% of violent delinquent acts, and 70% of drug sales were gang-related.

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Age – the older the juvenile, the more likely he or she will commit a serious crime The over all crime rates went down by roughly 3% between Rape went down by 11%. However, the following crimes went up for juveniles: Murder and manslaughter up by 20% Murder and manslaughter up by 20% Robbery up by 11% Robbery up by 11% Juveniles are overrepresented in some crimes. The population of children 18 years and under represent about 25% of all people in the US. This figure includes infants, toddlers, and many elementary school age children who likely never commit crime. Juveniles are over-represented in burglaries (26%); larcency-theft (26%); motor vehicle theft (24%); and arson (50%).

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Gender Historically, fewer females are arrested as compared to males. While this statement is still true, today females account for about 42% of all juveniles arrested. Historically, fewer females are arrested as compared to males. While this statement is still true, today females account for about 42% of all juveniles arrested. Females have unique problems that have not always been addressed by the juvenile court such as running away from physically or sexually abusive situations. Their strategy for survival has been criminalized.

Characteristics of Juvenile Offenders Race Studies concerning race and delinquency have found the following: Blacks receive harsher dispositions Blacks receive harsher dispositions Blacks are more likely to be instutitionalized or placed in foster care Blacks are more likely to be instutitionalized or placed in foster care Blacks are over-represented in arrests; 50% of all violent crimes and 30% of all property crimes Blacks are over-represented in arrests; 50% of all violent crimes and 30% of all property crimes Asians underrepresented in arrests and convictions Asians underrepresented in arrests and convictions Why are African Americans over-represented? There are many reasons such as a lower socioeconomic standing, higher observation by police, and living in disorganized areas where criminal opportunities are available. Thus, social class is often interconnected in the reasons African American youth are over-represented in crime.