Research Proposal

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW 1

LITERATURE REVIEW 3

Literature Review

February 5, 2017

Introduction

The case of many youths involving themselves with many negative activities that lead them to commit crimes has been associated with the background of their childhood. For many years, there have been researches conducted, and the main aim for doing so was to look into ways of dealing with juvenile crimes. After an intensive and comprehensive research from many researchers, it was found out that the way a child is brought up is related to how he or she addresses issues and interacts with others. Putting a child away from trouble is possible, but it cannot be fruitful if the parents that the child lives with are his or her motivation towards being problematic. Any given family has the responsibility of bringing up a child who will later be a prominent member of the society. Therefore, the way a family brings up its children or the way a family is structured affects the behaviors of the child.

Juvenile Delinquency and Family Structure

Many theories can be presented and shared among people interested in the issue of juvenile delinquency. However, there is one fact that people cannot run away from and that is the effects that family structures have on children. Researches have been done to make sure that the main reason why some children are involved in criminal activities and most of the results come back to the family structure. Most of the youths start getting into trouble with the law at the age of sixteen. However, the rate at which girls involve themselves in criminal activities is different from that of the boys (Goode, 2008). Research done by Buchannan states that most of the children who end up in juvenile correctional facilities come from broken families. However, that does not mean that a hundred percent of juvenile offenders come from broken families. It means that children from intact families are not at a higher risk to end up in juvenile correctional facilities compared to children from broken families.

Different theories have been used to try and explain why youths engage themselves in criminal activities. One of the theories is self-control. Self-control is defined as the ability for want to govern his or her behaviors in any given circumstance. The theory tries to relate self-control with broken families and crime. Self-control can be instilled or taught. At the same time, it can be acquired. A person who is from a family that has a moderate way of handling issues is likely to learn from other family members. The case is not different from a person who comes from a family that handles issues roughly. In most cases, children absorb the behaviors of their parents or guardians subconsciously. The theory argues that a child who comes from a family that does not value self-control is likely not to have control of his or her life and that means that he or she can get into trouble at any given time.

Arrests of youths are still increasing, and that raises the alarm. It is the responsibility of any given parent to take full responsibility for the children. The law is looking into ways that the parents can also be involved in the fight against juvenile crimes. However, the law does not plan to do so without exerting some pressure on the parents so that they can rise and assume their roles of instilling good morals in their children. By so doing, the parents will step up and try to curb the problem.

Jungmeen and other researchers conducted research looking for some of the reasons that motivate a juvenile offender towards being a criminal (Jungmeen et al. 1999). The findings were pointing out at the family structure. It is believed that children who are raised by parents who are negative and do not motivate them towards being better persons in life are likely to end up in conflict with the law. At the same time, siblings play a crucial role in molding the behaviors of a person. Some siblings are used to negativity and cannot encourage their siblings in any way. When it get to such a point, a child sees no need of being a good member of the society and ends up engaging him or herself in acts that are against the law. Peer plays a crucial role as well. When a youth encourages the company of youths who are not law abiding citizens, he or she might end up being the same.

Some of the times juvenile crimes are tried in adults’ courts. The reason for doing so is because the crimes committed are severe and if a punishment of a juvenile offender were given to the offender, it would be using a wrong strategy to deal with the problem. Crimes that threaten the lives of others or the security of the nation should not be tried in juvenile courts. Such is to make sure that the offender is not released back to the community before he or she is reformed. Research shows that poor performance also contributes to making a person a juvenile offender (Prochow & DeFronzo, 1997).

Poor school performance leads to a social problem, and that makes it difficult for one to put up with every person. Such can be motivated by poor upbringing or lack of enough resources to educate the child. Another reason might be low economic status. Low economic status has an effect on a child from two different perspectives. It can affect the ability of a parent to afford a school that provides a high quality of education, and it can affect the life of a family which in turn affects the child. Some children admire a better life, and they go to the extent of stealing so as to make enough to live a better life.

Conclusion

It is difficult to assume the role of a family in bringing up a child. Parents are obligated to making sure that their children are brought up in the richness of good morals and behaviors. A broken family is not capable of bringing up a reliable member of the society; though there are exceptional cases. The issue of juvenile delinquency cannot be alienated from family structure. A family which is firm is likely to bring up children who uphold the rule of law.

References

Jungmeen, K., Hetherinton, E., Reiss., D. (1999). Associations among family relationships,

Antisocial peers, and adolescents externalizing behaviors: Gender and family type Differences. Child development, 70(5), pg. 1209-1230. Retrieved from http://www.academicroom.com/article/associations-among-family-relationships antisocial-peers-and-adolescents-externalizing-behaviors-gender-and-family-type-

Kupchick, A. (2006). Judging juveniles: Prosecuting Adolescents in adult and juvenile courts. New York.

Goode, E. (2008). Out of Control: Assessing the general theory of crime. Stanford: University Press.

Flouri, E., Buchannan, A. (2002). Father involvement in childhood and trouble with the police in Adolescence. Journal of interpersonal violence. 17:689-694. Retrieved from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0886260502017006006

Hughes, L., Short, J. (2008). Juvenile Delinquency and Delinquents the Nexus of social change. Pearson/Prentice Hall.

Prochnow, F., DeFronzo, J. (1997). The impact of economic and parental characteristic on

Juvenile Misconduct. Journal of emotional & Behavioral disorders. 5:119-128. Retrieved

From http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/106342669700500206

Marjo-Ritta, J., Laara, E., Rantakallio, P., Moilanen, I., Isohanni, M. (1994). Juvenile Delinquency, education, and mental disability. Exceptional Children, 61(3), pg. 230. Sage Publication, Inc. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.usw.edu:8111/

Simons, R., Lin, K., Gordon, L., Conger, R., and Lorenz, F. (1999). Explaining the higher Incidence of adjustment problems among children of divorce compared with those in two parent families. Journal of marriage and family, 61(4), pg. 1020-1033. National council on family relations. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/354021

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