CONFLICTING THEORIES ON CAUSES & TREATMENT
OF VIOLENT JUVENILE CRIME IN THE U.S.
The literature has provided an extensive overview regarding youth and violent crime. A historic look at adolescent crime shows that murders committed by teens between the ages 14 and 17, increased 165% between 1985 and 1995. This number was feared to double by the year 2010. Drugs were blamed as were gangs and guns. Juvenile homicides are usually committed with handguns (90%). Childhood abuse was also thought to be a factor. Incarceration is viewed by some to be the answer, however effectiveness and a cost benefit ratio of this solution has not yet been determined (Crispell, 1997, p. 42).
From the 1980s to 1994, juvenile crime in the U.S. was on the rise. More recently, drops in juvenile crime have been reported, however the rates are still high and remain an ongoing concern. Juveniles are more likely than adults to be both the perpetrator and the victim of a crime. When juvenile crime was at its peak in 1994, 16% of all homicides involved a juvenile. Regarding total crime, prior to 1987, homicide offenders were equally black and white; by 1994, 61% of juvenile homicide offenders were black. Rates of female juvenile offenders are less than those of males, however female arrests for violent offenses have increased 25% and rates for property crime have increased 21% (MacLellan, 2000, 1-4).
Although research demonstrates the prevalence of violent juvenile crime, it presents multiple, inconclusive views regarding other aspects such as causes and treatment. Studies provide information from individual theoretical perspectives, however, a comprehensive overview regarding these conflicting views, is lacking.
Research demonstrates that violent crime results from many interacting risk factors which include individual, relationship, situational, and community aspects. Understanding these and other possible causes of youth violence i...