Consequences of Juvenile Delinquency

Juvenile delinquency has numerous consequences.

Juvenile delinquency is the behavior of minors who break the law. Many times this is a natural part of rebelliousness that comes with youth, but other times it can be a serious sign of a maladjusted child. Nonetheless, numerous consequences are applied when people participate in crime as juvenile delinquents.

Record

Juvenile delinquents who get caught create a paper trail that can haunt them throughout their life. Arrest records, court records and even a criminal record might show up on job applications and background checks for many years to come. In some jurisdictions these records are suppressed when the juvenile becomes an adult, but this may not always be the case for serious offenses.

Punishment

Another consequence of juvenile delinquency is that it can lead to criminal punishment. Whether you're put into a boot camp, a juvenile detention center, house arrest or any of a dozen other different punishments varies depending on crime and jurisdiction, but you will be put under some form of punishment that is meant to balance out the acts of juvenile delinquency.

Reputation

Since crimes are a matter of public record, juvenile delinquents can develop a reputation in the community. Even if the delinquent isn't convicted of a crime, the arrest and accusation can be enough to create suspicion and take away the benefit of the doubt. Even without official action and punishment, juvenile delinquents can suffer from major hits to credibility and trust among other people.

Evaluation

Some symptoms of juvenile delinquency may actually be telling symptoms of budding mental disorders. Operational defiant disorder, for instance, is characterized by a young person consistently breaking rules and overstepping boundaries. In some cases, when a young person's behavior seems to go beyond the usual rebellion, it might be required for that juvenile to be evaluated and examined by mental professionals.

References

• Yale: Juvenile Delinquency: Cause and Effect; Cynthia H. Roberts
• Andrew D. Stine: What Are the Consequences of Juvenile Delinquency?; June 2010