An examination of the evidence shows that, though a certain correlation exists, the precise causal relationship is highly complex and difficult to determine. South Carolina has faced the issue of juvenile crime and an especially rampant growth in the rate of violent crime that was noted as early as the first half of the 1990s (Austin 1994)
Richland County, which contains the state capital of Columbia and is generally more urbanized than much of the state, also had the second highest rate of violent crimes perpetrated by juveniles of all of the counties in the state in 1992 (Austin 1994). This statistic is consistent with findings taken over half-a-decade later, when it was determined that sixty-five percent of all juvenile offenders involved in crimes with firearms in which arrests were made resided in metropolitan counties prior to their arrests and confinement in a juvenile detention center, while only eight-percent came from "non-rural" counties and twenty-six percent came from the states rural counties (McManus 1999)
Efforts to establish the factors that influence and contribute to juvenile crime have come to varying conclusions, and are largely dependent on the perspective of those conducting such studies, and the methodologies and other specifics employed in reaching determinations regarding the rates and types of juvenile violence. Specifically, broader studies that examine the issue as a whole have found different correlations, and different strengths of similar correlations, than studies that have attempted to answer more narrow questions regarding certain demographics and trends (Osgood & Chambers 2003; McManus 1999; Wootton & Heck 1996)
This is especially true when the issues of urbanization and urban proximity are considered. The general perception and belief that criminality rates are higher in urban populations, and can be seen to increase as urban sprawl brings formerly rural communities into close to proximity to urban areas and centers, finds a great deal of agreement with statistical analysis of criminality trends over the past century (Wootton & Heck 1996)
"While measurement is not new to juvenile justice, too often data collected by juvenile justice agencies have been unrelated to outcomes, and have seldom allowed the public to assess performance in a meaningful way. This information has not helped juvenile justice systems and organizations determine the impact and cost-effectiveness of their interventions" (Bazemore 2006: v)
"Moreover, the reactions of the juvenile and criminal justice systems often rely on information from victims or witnesses of crime. It does not take an expert on crime to recognize that a substantial amount of crime is not reported and, if reported, is not officially recorded" (Tourangeau & McNeeley 2008: 44)
Preventing delinquency does not only save the young lives from being wasted, but it also prevents the onset of the adult criminal careers, thus reducing the burden of crime on its victims and on society. As a result, diversion programs such as after school programs, clubs and associations programs, working and volunteering programs and many other programs will be significant in preventing or deterring juvenile delinquency, abuse, and neglect (Saunders & Carr, 2009)
One recent study in California found that 70% of juveniles leaving state custody were re-arrested within three years, but intensive therapies for serious juvenile offenders and their families cut repeat arrests by as much as half. California provides three therapy-based programs "that have been scientifically shown to cut repeat arrests by serious offenders": Functional Family Therapy (FFT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) (Derryck, 2007)
.For that approach to work, it would have to mean that the reason kids use drugs is because they don't know that drugs are illegal or bad for them" (Jackovitz 2008)
An estimated eight million school-age children are home alone after school during the hours when violent juvenile crime peaks. Children without family or adult support are more likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and sex and engage in criminal activity (Patten & Robertson 2001)
This is important not simply to reduce rates of criminality amongst the most vulnerable population of our society, but also to reduce crime later on, as youthful criminals are likely to become more hardened, career criminals after they age out of the juvenile justice system. Most chronic juvenile offenders are under the age of 15 when they commit their first offense (Sprague 2003:5)
Use of Jury and Judges: The other difference between the two courts is that a juvenile case is usually determined by a judge who decides on whether the minor has violated the law and his/her punishment. In contrast, an adult court may include the use of a jury to determine a case (Komisaruk, 2007)
This is largely because most of the current programs, which are largely unsuccessful, only focus lessening these activities once the delinquent behavior has occurred. Programs that contain the early intervention and comprehensiveness features have proven to be effective in lessening juvenile crime (Saminsky, 2010)
The two young culprits admitted to copying the video game by implementing it in real life. (Tennessee Sniping Incident prompts Video Game Suit, Reuters, October 22, 2003) Drug Use Drug usage and substance abuse are one of the strongest factors contributing to juvenile violence
This labeling creates a chain reaction -- when the 'deviant' is convicted of a crime, they are put in contact mainly with other 'deviant' individuals, and their identity as a criminal estranged from society is reinforced rather than circumvented. An early advocate of labeling theory, Lemert (1967), suggested that if someone labeled 'deviant' embraces the label, rather than sees him or herself with an investment in socially acceptable roles; he or she will identify with the criminal subculture (Paternoster & Iovanni 1989: 359)
These programs glamorize sexual violence and assaults which destroy the minds of young individuals. (Fernandes, 2003) Discussion We have explored number of factors of high rate of juvenile crimes in United States
Juvenile Mental Health Courts, Delinquency Prevention courts, Innocence Projects, National Gang Centre and Best Friends Organizations have also been established to deal with an individual's psychological problems and crimes. (Frosch, 2012) Moreover, Preventive Treatment Plans are also practiced by the state
Judges, Prosecutors and Law Practitioners must be given trainings as how to deal with juveniles. (Greenwood, 1996) In case when juveniles are treated as adults due the severity of crime they must be locked in separate prisons and the jailers should be given proper training that how to behave with teenagers
But the reason why black youth is more seen in such cases is that they are not being treated equally at job, neither in schools and even they are overly mistreated at some of the departments. (Kulla, 2006) Conclusion Despite the large number of efforts made by the United States Government against the juvenile criminal activities, still U
, these agencies have higher number of responsibilities and so they are unable to manage activities in each area. (Mandel, 2008) Media The children who watch violent movies and play fighting or violent video games for long hours from very early age are more likely to develop delinquent behaviour