A_Rising_Problem_in_the_United_States

A Rising Problem in the United States Cary Kindle AIU Online Abstract This paper is going to discuss the rising problem of juvenile delinquency in the United States and the fact that many adolescence are being tried as adults in the court systems when there could have been an alternative program used to correct behavioral problems. In addition, this paper will explore where the problem may have originated. With delinquency rising there is a need for more jails and police. A Rising Problem in the United States There is a growing problem in the United States and that problem is the rise of juvenile delinquency that is affecting more than just the individuals causing trouble. Court systems for juveniles are as much like adult courts. As Kurlychek and Johnson (2004) argued, “this assumption is likely to be problematic. Juvenile courts are characterized by disposition options that fundamentally differ from adult courts in their symbolic meaning, punitive and treatment alternatives, and punishment goals.” Many young people can benefit if corrected early in life. Juvenile delinquency is a national problem making it difficult for authorities to overlook age, causing the need for more jails, prisons, and a search for creative alternative programs rather than a destroyed life of incarceration. Opposition Many people feel that juveniles that commit crimes should be processed under adult court systems. Many juveniles continuously commit the same offences repeatedly. This could very well be a point that could be used to refute the fact that children do not process and understand the effects of their decisions (LawyerShop.com, 2012). This is the entire reason why our system of justice needs to clarify and decide the appropriate actions to take when it comes to underage delinquency. This is a precursor to come up with alternative corrections programs for first time offenders. (LawyerShop.com, 2012) States, “Most recent Juvenile Offenders and Victims National Report Series tracked crime rates in 1999 and found that youths made up 54 percent of all arson arrests, 42 percent of all vandalism arrests, and 35 percent of all motor vehicle theft arrests”. These numbers are obviously higher in 2012 and this would be reason enough to consider charging minors in adult court for repeat offenders. Why wouldn’t we want to correct these actions before the crimes get so severe that there is no other alternative than to imprison those juveniles' Consequences First, juvenile delinquency and its consequences are becoming an overwhelming problem in the United States. Many juveniles are getting into trouble and are not being held responsible for their actions early on. This means that their minor infractions could grow into major crimes. With this being a result, more and more children are being tried as adults. Kurlychek and Johnson (2010) state, “One of the most profound developments in the recent evolution of juvenile justice has been the expansion of legal mechanisms for transferring juvenile offenders to adult court”. This means that that there is a need for more police and incarceration facilities, in turn there is a need to create and research alternative rehabilitation programs. This can be an expensive endeavor, but is the best for many youths who otherwise would never find their way out of the system (Driessen, 2011). It is best to try to put an end to the increasing problem of juvenile delinquency before many individuals are too far gone to help. Support System Second, Many youths of today do not have a support system to give them the proper guidance for a good and productive life. If children are exposed to a healthy non-violent, drug-free, non-abusive atmosphere early in life they are more likely to grow up to be good people. This is not always the case. Creating more community based organizations and programs are necessary to help many children that may otherwise not have a positively structured home life. These programs and organizations should target crime-producing ideas, such as substance abuse, misbehavior outside adult supervision, anti-social attitudes, and other behaviors that are usually associated with criminal acts ( Driessen, 2011). Schools and churches could reach out to help by offering extracurricular activities that will give many children the opportunity to learn to live a crime free life. New peer groups could be a beginning for first time offenders. A social learning theory maintains that individuals that are affiliated with a church are less likely to commit delinquent or criminal acts (Cox, Matthews 2007). This is a good way for many young people to develop a meaningful support system. Starting at Home Finally, something to consider is where the problem of juvenile delinquency originates. Many people argue that problem children start acting out because of the situations in their homes. Single parents may not have control of their children because they have to work and are not always around to see what the young people are doing. Many single parents let their children stay home by themselves when they reach a certain age. This in many cases is a recipe for disaster. Many young people lack the maturity to make correct decisions. Which may lead them to commit delinquent acts. Mothers that have to work may be a contributing factor for a misbehaving youth. (Ven, 2003) states, “ It is important to know, for example, whether mothers who work overtime hours spend much less time on average with their children or if overtime hours are associated with highly-stressed mothers, which negatively influences children. Unsupervised adolescence is a stepping-stone for criminal actions that land juveniles in adult jails. Children in adult court systems are 80 percent more likely to receive a harsher sentence than young adults that are just a few years older (Kurlychek, Johnson, 2010). This may be a good reason to consider where the problem of juvenile delinquency begins and correct these young people before we need to treat them like criminal adults. Finding a Solution In conclusion, our society needs to step up and teach our young people that crime does not pay, unless they want to be treated like animals and wind up in a situation that is a waste of life and time—prison. Some young people need to be incarcerated for the safety of our communities. The United States cannot afford to keep building more jails and prisons or creating new alternative programs that will keep many young people out of those facilities. References Cox M, Matthews B (2007). Faith-Based Approaches Controlling the Delinquency of Juvenile Offenders. Federal Probation, Jun2007, Vol. 71(1), p. 31-37, 7p Kurlychek MC, Johnson BD (2010). Juvenility and Punishment: Sentencing Juveniles in Adult Criminal Court. American Society of Criminology, 48(3), p. 725-757 Ven, T. (2003). Working Mothers and Juvenile Delinquency. LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC New York, NY. Driessen, J. (2011). Focusing on Juvenile Justice Reform in Minnesota, Retrieved June 17, 2012 from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/eds/detail'vid=4&hid=1&sid=e30ca6e4-83ba-4a0f-84b9-fff371176bbf%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=f5h&AN=59533373 LawyerShop.com. (2012, June 29). 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