The Cause, Prevention and Punishment of Juvenile Offenders

The cause, prevention and punishment of juvenile offenders has become the number one concern in America. The public perception that juvenile crime is out of control and becoming more violent is growing throughout the country. Unfortunately, statistics from the FBI and Justice Department agree with the public perception. Youth crime is on the increase and becoming more violent. The number of youths arrested for murder and weapons' violations has almost doubled over the last 10 years.

Criminologists, psychologists, and other behavioral scientists have studied juvenile delinquency extensively, and a number of theories have been developed. One theory suggests that children from the poorest part of society lack opportunities to develop in socially acceptable ways. This lack creates a predilection to delinquency. Another theory is that delinquency is learned behavior, acquired by associating with people who have little respect for the law or societal conventions. A third explanation suggests that juveniles who are caught and labeled delinquent by the legal authorities are more likely to continue to break the law because that label makes being law-abiding harder for them. Still other theories stress psychological and biological causes such as mental illness (Albanese, 1985, chs. 1-5).

Traditional researchers have attributed delinquency to a number of psychological and behavioral theories. The focus of these theories has been the reaction of the delinquent to outsi

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more than quadrupled (Sarracino, 1996 p. 28). Legislators and some law enforcement officials want stricter sentencing guidelines for violent juveniles. Experts are divided on the best prevention strategy. Some claim the easy availability of guns and drugs should be targeted if decreasing crime is the objective. Other experts say increased support for juveniles is essential. They need better education, familial support, and rehabilitation. Tougher sentences could turn some juveniles into career criminals. The legal and social implications of juvenile crime are complex and affect every aspect of the communities in which people live. A consensus is growing that states must overhaul their juvenile justice systems. Public uneasiness with violent juvenile crime is growing. With violent acts so vividly reflected in the media, many people no longer believe that juvenile crime is a temporary aberration of the society. They want juvenile crime and violence deterred by any means necessary, including adult treatment for the juvenile who commits an adult crime. A growing number of people are dissatisfied with a juvenile justice system that treats the violent crimes, including murder, by juveniles so lightly. Criminologists

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