On Juvenile Crime, Causes, and Prevention

Juvenile crime is a blanket term that refers to any ofunstable family environment, the risks for juvenile
a number of criminal acts which are perpetrated bycrime become exceedingly significant.
minors. While adult crime is typically well understoodWhile many people expect the state to address the
from a criminal psychology perspective, the rangeissues of juvenile crime, the expected effectiveness
and causes of juvenile crime are a bit more vague inof a state sponsored program is not high concerning
terms of our understanding.the prevention of crime, but rather it is focused on
In any case, juvenile crime poses a unique threat andthe rehabilitation of delinquents after criminal acts
responsibility to society to address and preventhave already been executed.
before it can cause devastating consequences.Since juvenile crime begins in the home, it will only be
Some of the most common forms of juvenile crimeprevented at the societal level. Close knit societies
are vandalism, harassment, drug use and sales, ascan influence and address the problems facing the
well as gang related violence and battery.youth in a particular area and give them the support
While researchers do not agree upon the causes ofthey need to reject negative peer pressure.
juvenile crime, there are a number of risk factorsPart of preventing juvenile crime is by giving youths a
which are associated with statistically higher incidencesuitable substitute to the gang mentality.
and dangers for a given community of youths toThat being said, some of the more common state
engage in juvenile crime.run projects to preclude juvenile crime are state
Some of the major risk factors which have beensponsored youth initiatives as well as drug abuse
found to increase the danger of juvenile crime areeducation.
poverty, and the presence of drugs and drug relatedAlong with these activities, the state also diverts a
violence in a particular community.substantial amount of tax monies into supplying and
Domestic violence within the home is also a significantmaintaining correctional facilities whose focus is the
player in many lives of juvenile delinquents. Exposurerehabilitation of minors involved in juvenile crime.
to violent streets which already suffer from gangNo matter what the primary cause of juvenile crime
violence have also been found to play a significantis, the fact remains that it is a significant issue that
role in increasing the incidence of juvenile delinquencywe need to address as a society.
in a particular area.Only by the fair address of juvenile crime at the
Compounded with easy access to fire arms,community level can we take the steps required to
exposure to violence in the media, as well as anwin over the disenfranchised youth.