About Juvenile Crime

Most states in the United States consider a juvenile offender to be anyone who commits a crime and is under the age of 18. Juvenile crime has been studied by psychologists and sociologists who seek to understand its impact, its causes and ways to prevent it. Most courts understand juveniles need to be treated differently from adults who commit crimes, and therefore have a separate juvenile court system in their state.

History

In the 1800s children who committed a crime were punished the same as an adult (usually if they were over the age of seven). At the turn of the century, the courts begin to realize juvenile offenders had different needs from the justice system. The idea of rehabilitation instead of punishment begin to take shape for young offenders. By the 1960s most states had a separate court system for juveniles, which included different rules and detention centers. In 1974 the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency and Prevention Act was written to provide money to fund programs to rehabilitate juveniles and help prevent crime.

Types

Juvenile crimes are divided into different categories depending on how serious they are. Felonies are serious crimes, such as murder and sex crimes. Misdemeanors are offenses which may include petty theft. Infractions, such as speeding tickets, are minor offenses which are usually punishable with a fine. The juvenile courts also have another category of crimes, including offenses like truancy and curfew violations, which are not part of the adult court system.

Prevalence

The crime rate among juveniles started to rose during the 1980s, and continued to do so into the early 1990s. Sociologists theorized an increase in drug usage and gang involvement may have added to the rising crime level. In the mid-1990s the level of violent crimes committed by juveniles started to see a decrease. although certain crimes, such as drug offenses, remained consistent.

Causes

Although there may not be one specific cause for juvenile crime, there are some factors which place a young person at risk for committing a crime. Children who are left unsupervised for long periods of time have a higher risk of committing a crime. Children who were the victims of physical, emotional or sexual abuse are also at risk. Other factors which may lead to juvenile crime are living in poverty, having a drug or alcohol problem and being connected with a street gang.

Prevention

There are various types of juvenile crime prevention programs. Some are school-based, including after school programs. Others are community-based and run by non-profit agencies. Crime prevention programs work best when started early, even as young as kindergarten. Successful crime prevention programs may include teaching leadership and life skills, mentoring, drug and alcohol education, family counseling and gang prevention. After school programs which keep a young person occupied and provide an opportunity for recreation and learning may also help prevent juvenile crime.