Criminology: Theories of Juvenile Delinquency

Criminology, which encompasses all study of criminal behavior, has long been concerned with the roots of juvenile delinquency. In many cases, juveniles with a history of delinquent behavior graduate into adult career criminals, and many researchers and sociologists believe that crime in the United States can be reduced by addressing the causes of juvenile delinquency. Unfortunately, there is no single universally accepted theory of juvenile delinquency. Rather, juvenile delinquency appears to occur at the convergence of numerous causative factors.

Research has indicated that today street gangs exist in 94 percent of all cities in the United States that have populations greater than 100,000. And while the scope and the nature of the problem vary widely from city to city, estimates place the number of youths in gangs in Los Angeles between 50,000 to 100,000 children and youths (See Rogers, 1991, p. 20; Hixon, 1999, p. 2121). Another study in Chicago demonstrated that 5 percent of all elementary school children there were affiliated with street gangs, as were 35 percent of high school dropouts (Hixon, 1999, p. 2121).

Numerous researchers and scholars have articulated the juvenile delinquency associated with gang membership. Yet, despite the substantial research performed in this area, there is still no consensus among scholars as to the roots of juvenile delinquency. This paper examines several studies

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r the theory that juvenile delinquency is a function of a broken home environment. However, it is undoubtedly true that not all juveniles from broken homes become either delinquents or career criminals. Consequently, a broken home in and of itself will never serve as the sole means for explaining delinquency. Nonetheless, it does offer treatment providers one indicator of delinquency. In addition, the disadvantages suffered by a juvenile in a broken home can be exacerbated by other factors that can lead to delinquency. For example, another theory as to the roots of juvenile delinquency asserts that juveniles' self-control levels may not yet be fixed. Thus, crime appears to be attractive because the offenders do not contemplate the inevitable long-term consequences (Tittle & Grasmick, 1997). Particularly in a broken home, a juvenile may see no reasonable alternative to delinquency, particularly given the fact that adolescents are generally more self-absorbed and self-concerned than adults. Thus, as the costly consequences of criminal behavior unfold over time, those who begin with low self-control may gradually learn to defer gratification. Many people may increase their self-control as they age and, consequently, perform
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Approximate Word count = 2557
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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