What Causes Delinquent Behavior Essays - 931 Words

It is hard for anyone to understand why people commit heinous crimes. We as human beings are all capable of committing or engaging in delinquent behavior. What stands in the way of a person that decides to engage in deviant behavior or to choose not to commit crimes at all. We may never truly know or understand the real reasons behind why certain people engage in delinquent behavior. Early philosophers and scientists studied the Criminal Justice System and the behavior of criminals using different forms of theories, which in turn, lead to the Classical School and the Positive School. We all use theories in our everyday life. We make assumptions about certain things, that in turn allow us to form a kind of theory or thought. We gather†¦show more content†¦The way that people use these terms depends greatly on how they understand them and how they are using them at a given time, theories help us understand our social norms. Having a good theory is to be able to understand all the areas that the theory deals with, it is not only easier on you as the researcher, but it is also easier for you to understand what other theorist was writing about. One of the oldest conception about the Criminal Justice System and crime emerged out of the eighteenth century which is best known as the Classical School of criminology. During this time period paved a way for some basic ideas about the operation of the criminal justice system and the processing of sentencing. The Classical School was not interested in studying the criminals but more focused on lawmaking and the legal process. Best known for there works and were the most influential during this time was philosophers Jeremy Bentham and Cesare Beccaria. From the Classical School concept they believe that people have the free will in making their own decisions and that punishment can be a deterrence to others, as long as the punishment was swift and fit the crime. The school saw two forms of deterrence specific and gen eral. Specific deterrence is giving a offender the most sever punishment or applied just enough pain to deter them from repeating. General deterrence was applied to show potential offenders thatShow MoreRelatedIntroduction: There are many theories that attempt to explain the phenomenon of juvenile1000 Words   |  4 Pagesthat attempt to explain the phenomenon of juvenile delinquency and the factors that cause it. There is, and has been, a great amount of young people who engage in delinquent behavior throughout the nation and worldwide. What exactly is the catalyst that incites these young people to commit crime and stray from the ethical norm established in society? Are all youth susceptible to the temptation of deviant behavior or is it just some? Theories suggest different possible etiologies, which include: socialRead MoreContributing Factors to Juvenile Delinquency1620 Words   |  7 Pagesjuvenile delinquency such as domestic issues or stress at school, and there are also four different theories, strain, social learning, control, and labeling, to explain the different prospective of why it is thought that juveniles commence in delinquent behavior. This particular discussion however, is going t o be about the influence of gangs on juvenile delinquency. A general definition of a juvenile gang would be any durable youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of the group identityRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency Theories Stem From An Array Of Individual,829 Words   |  4 Pagescertain causes as to why juveniles commit criminal acts. Juveniles are identified as minors-under the age of 18, in which are treated separately for criminal offenses. In the film Kids, delinquent behavior is constantly demonstrated throughout the progression of the film. The film depicts a group of sexually active teenagers in New York City. Many of the characters exhibited at-risk concerns: substance abuse and early sexuality, in which directly correlates an increase in delinquent behavior. ThereforeRead MoreHow Does An Individual Become Delinquent?1605 Words   |  7 PagesHow does an individual become delinquent? There are many views in society of why deviant behavior plays a role in on es life. One example is known as The Social Control Theory, originally known as The Social Bond Theory in 1969. During the 1960’s sociologists sought different conceptions of crime. One question general asked is â€Å"why do people follow the law?† The social Control Theory suggests that individuals become deviant when their bond to society has weakened. This tend to happen when individualRead MoreJuvenile Delinquent Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesJuvenile delinquents are minors usually between the ages of 10 and 18. They are those minors that have committed some type of act that violates the law. Juveniles are not given the same sentences as adults when it comes to the punishment part. The argument for juvenile delinquents is, if they are born evil or is it part of the environment and or society. Are juveniles who commit a crime really naturally evil as many suggest, or are they their own products of the environment/society they live in?Read MoreThe Lack of Strong Pa rental Figures Causes Juvenile Delinquency954 Words   |  4 PagesThe Lack of Strong Parental Figures Causes Juvenile Delinquency Imagine a thirteen-year-old boy living with his mother. His parents have been divorced since he was four-years-old. He has never really known his father and therefore uses his friends for his male role models. His mother has to work two jobs to support her family and is therefore not there to spend much time with her child. This is the type of child that is normally delinquent. Add to this scenario a group ofRead MoreDifferential Association Theory Essay1292 Words   |  6 PagesAssociation Theory, established by Edwin Sutherland in 1947, explicit the deviance of an individuals behavior and how it is learned through interaction with others or associations. There are several components that play a role in this theory that determines the main causes of delinquency. One of the components of this theory is, a person do not inherently become a criminal, it is a learned behavior. A person cannot decide one day he wants to commit a crime if he is not influence or challenge by othersRead MoreSocial Disorganization Theory By Clifford Shaw And Henry D. Mckay1056 Words   |  5 Pageslabeled socially disorganized when there is a breakdown in social control or SOMETHING among its elements. The theory suggest the absence or reduction of cohesion and solidarity in a community, will result in a increase of crime rates and deviant behavior. To support these theoretical statement s, empirical evidence has produced findings that reveal a correlation between social ties and criminal activity in a community. But as Sampson and Groves (1989), note while past researchers have examined ShawRead MoreJuvenile Delinquency : A Complex Social Phenomenon Of Criminal Behavior Essay1701 Words   |  7 Pagescomplex social phenomenon of criminal behavior in juveniles. The juvenile justice system is an intricate part of juvenile justice intertwining law enforcement, court and correctional agencies along with the community when dealing with juvenile delinquents. Thus, understanding delinquents and how they behave is crucial when considering the effectiveness of prevention to commit further crimes. Theories of juvenile justice causation enables all to understand what the strains and breakdowns in socialRead MoreThe Role Of Family Structure And Youth Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction News and media outlets have observed an increase in delinquent crimes committed by children under the age of 18. What causes a child to embark on such destructive paths at such young ages? Children are our future; they must be raised well to become the next Einstein, Oprah, Obama and etc. Raising a child starts within the home. Not all families are nuclear families consisting of a mother and father. Some families are single parent families where there is only one parent or even extended