Prevent Juvenile Delinquency

What are the Forces and Influences at Work?

• Family connections. Supportive connections to family and positive adults are critical for positive youth development.  When young people lack those connections they are more likely to engage in risky or delinquent behavior.   Furthermore, family issues such as inconsistent or lax supervision and various forms of abuse are some of the most studied links to juvenile delinquency. These studies indicate that consistent parental supervision and monitoring seem to protect children and adolescents from involvement in delinquency.[1]

• Maltreatment. Empirical evidence consistently suggests that family dysfunction and child maltreatment increase the risk of delinquency and criminal offending for children and youth.[2]

• Neighborhood environment and peer groups. Delinquency is more prevalent in neighborhoods where children have less access to the social networks or community supports that might prevent them from making poor choices and that would enable them to compensate for, and overcome, disadvantages. In addition to neighborhood factors, research has consistently documented the importance of friendships and peers in adolescent behavior and delinquency. Delinquency happens most frequently in a group context, and studies have found that a peers’ delinquency has a significant effect on a youth’s own delinquency.[3]

• Availability of community-based programs. Quality, structured afterschool programs and opportunities for community engagement are critical for children and youth.  Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes, abuse drugs, drink, smoke and engage in sexual activity.[4]  Empirical studies suggest that unstructured socializing among youth—socializing without specific activities and without guidance or supervision by positive adults— increases the likelihood that delinquent activities will occur. Studies further document that boys and girls who engage in highly structured activities associated with school and pro-social clubs are less likely to become involved in delinquent behavior than peers without this involvement.[5]

• The impact of “official contact” with the justice system. Important research from Campbell Systematic Reviews suggests that formally processing youth through the juvenile justice system not only does not prevent subsequent delinquent behavior – but in fact – it actually seems to increase it.  Justice practitioners have tremendous discretion when handling juvenile offenders who have committed minor crimes.  Police officers, district attorneys, intake officers, juvenile and family court judges and other officials decide whether the youth should be "officially processed" by the juvenile justice system or diverted from the system to a program, counseling, other services - or simply released. Understanding the impact that officially processing youth through the juvenile justice system has on continued delinquent behavior is important for policymakers considering how to best meet the needs of young people and the community.

• Connections to work and school. In order to be successful and avoid delinquency, youth need to be connected to school and work. The more students feel as though they belong to their school, the less likely they are to engage in delinquent behavior.  While connections to good schools can help young people regain lost ground and stay on track, the failing schools that serve many high-poverty neighborhoods can intensify feelings of futility and alienation among at-risk youth.[6]  Youth who are not in school and not working may become further disconnected due to incarceration, aging out of foster care, dropping out of high school, or homelessness. As a result, these “disconnected” youth may face difficulties in successfully transitioning to adulthood and self-sufficiency.  Not only does this lead to negative outcomes for the youth themselves but also for their communities. Disconnected youth are more likely than other youth to engage in criminal activities, become incarcerated, and rely on public systems of support.[7]

• Differences between boys and girls. Although a number of delinquency risk factors affect both boys and girls—such as family dynamics, school involvement, neighborhood environment, and the availability of community-based programs—other factors directly increase a girl’s risk of delinquency. These risk factors include early onset of puberty, sexual abuse or maltreatment, and depression and anxiety. Researchers also found that a number of protective factors exist to prevent girls from becoming juvenile offenders even when faced with risk factors. These protective factors include the involvement of a caring adult, school connectedness, school success, and religiosity.[8] Boys may be more likely to become delinquent if they are mistreated in the home, have delinquent friends, drop out of school, use drugs, or face community violence. But research shows that with the support of their parents, coaches, teachers, and friends, boys can continue to develop good behaviors despite previous setbacks.[9]

 

[1] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2010).  Causes and Correlates of Delinquency.

[2] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2010).  Causes and Correlates of Delinquency.

[3] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2010).  Causes and Correlates of Delinquency.

[4] Afterschool Alliance (2011). Afterschool Fact Sheet.

[5] Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2010).  Causes and Correlates of Delinquency.

[6] Institute for Youth Education and Families (2005). Reengaging Disconnected Youth.

[7] Government Accountability Office. (2008). Memo on Disconnected Youth.

[8] OJJDP (2010). In Focus: Girls Delinquency.

[9] US Department of Health and Human Services (2008). Fact Sheet: Juvenile Delinquency.