Causes of Juvenile Crime

I have worked with Juveniles for the past six yearsdifferent times and our children are faced with many
as of April 1st, 2010. Working with them has beenchallenges that previous generations have not had to
quite a rewarding experience with many highs anddeal with. How can we expect these children to
lows. When I think of some of the crimes that theymake better choices when they have no one to lead
have committed, it leads me to believe that maybe ifthem. The definition of a father means to guide,
their fathers have been an active part of theirs livesteach, and protect. When the father is inactive in a
that it is a strong possibility that they wouldn't bechild's life he or she has to find ways to protect
serving time in a Juvenile Jail.themselves. At that point, they begin to make poor
I do realize that we have some youth that comechoices such as joining gangs, hanging out with out of
from two parent homes but over 80% of our youthcontrol peers. Attention from the wrong persons
come from broken single parent homes. I amresult in lost lives.
currently working a book on my experiences withI say lost lives because some of our incarcerated
working with Juveniles and I surveyed fifty studentsyouth will be retained until 2015. They will miss out on
to see what type of relationship did they have withthose precious teen years that cannot be replaced. It
their fathers and these were my findings: 34% had ais my sincere hope that Fathers will take time to be
poor relationship with their dads. Since the highestdads to their children because it is not solely the
percentage fell in the poor category my fears weremothers responsibility to rear the child and a mother
confirmed.cannot take your place. For those fathers who are
I am not naive to believe that peer pressure is not ainactive in their children's lives, it is time to take your
factor. I know very well that it is. These arerightful place. And the time is now.