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Juvenile delinquency refers to Antisocial or Criminal acts performed by Juvenile s. It is an important Social Issue because Juvenile s are capable of committing Serious Crime s, but most Legal System s prescribe specific procedures and punishments for dealing with such crimes. NATURE AND CAUSES Juvenile Delinquency may refer to either violent or non-violent crime committed by persons who are (usually) under the adult age (In the United States, 18). However, there is much debate about whether or not a child should be held criminally responsible for his or her own actions. There are many different outside influences that affect the way a child acts both negatively and positively, some of those influences are as follows: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CRIME Travis Hirschi A scholar in the field of Crime and juvenile delinquency as well as other areas, has numerous Theories about juvenile delinquency. A few of his most praised theories are Social Control Theory which is any illegal Behavior that occurs within the moment, not planned. Also, self control theory which is any behavior that uses force or fraud in pursuit of self interest. Both are similar theories that attempt to explain juvenile delinquency and suggest that all people are naturally bad. Hirshi believes that youth in particular who use drugs and commit crime do it because they lack self control. Hirschi believes that poor Parenting and Families that are unable or willing to monitor their child's behaviors lack self control. For these theories to play out in an effective manner, self-control would need to work before social control can work. Hirschi believes that whoever is the most conformist in society, not necessarily the smartest, will have the most self-control. Travis Hirshi is saying that too much autonomy is not a good thing when dealing with Interpersonal Relationship s among Child ren. Robert Merton Merton believes that there is a serious relationship between Poverty and crime. His theory suggests that if you are poor you are more likely to commit crimes and become a Criminal . He feels that there are Institutionalized paths to happiness in our Society . He believes in a society of equilibrium where ''goals = means''. A society of Disequlibrium would be adaptation. Merton's Strain Theory suggests five attributes. # ''Innovation'': individuals who accept socially approved goals, but not necessarily the socially approved means. # ''Retreatism'': those who reject socially approved goals and the means for acquiring them. # ''Ritualism'': people who buy into system of socially approved means but lose sight of the goals (Merton believed that drug users are in this category). # ''Conformity'': those who conform to the system's means and goals. # ''Rebellion'': people who negate socially approved goals and means by creating a new system of acceptable goals and means. DELINQUENCY PREVENTION Juvenile Delinquency and its effects are very costly to individuals, families, and societies. Millions of tax dollars are expended each year to cover the costs of law enforcement, legal proceedings, victim assistance, and offender incarceration. A number of studies have found that prevention costs much less than the effects of delinquency itself. Many states have caught hold of this vision and have allocated funds for programs that serve an at-risk youth. EXTERNAL LINKS
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