Combating_Crime

This essay will focus on juvenile crime and ways of preventing or combating career crime amongst young offenders by exploring Garda Youth Diversion Programmes and how they can be effective.A Youth/Community work practitioners role is to engage with those who are socially excluded and marginalised in society and they hold the responsibility of reversing these exclusionary processes to create opportunities for constructive social inclusion and positive change to take place. In order to combat or prevent crime there are many issues which must be taken into account. Amoung those committing crimes what form of social capital exists, what is their social class, their status in society, their family background, is substance abuse a concern, and finally their sense of belonging within their own community. When dealing with young offenders it is important to identify what form of social capital exists. Social Capital refers to the features of social relationships, levels of interpersonal trust, norms of reciprocity and mutual aid. Social capital is believed to play an important role in the functioning of a community, the promotion of successful youth development and the prevention of juvenile crime. So if social capital does not exist youths are at risk of career crime. There are two types of social capital, static and dynamic. Boecks research(2006) suggests that young offenders or those at risk are typified by static social capital and it is clear why. Static social capital consists of tight bonded small networks leading to a narrow trust which is inward looking and reciprocity is characterised by an immediate or no sense of return. This form of social capital can result in young peoples outlook on life becoming restricted and less optimistic as they have a restricted sense of belonging. This may then lead to risk averse behaviour. This risk averse behaviour may involve young people committing crimes but it restricts the capacity to take risks associated with 'moving on' or the risks associated with normal life transitions. Static social capital may be seen amongst early school leavers, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, those from a household where crime is quite common and the youths within that household feel their only option is to follow this cycle of offending. It may also be seen amongst those who need attention and feel marginalised from society. Social class and status within society can also be a factor of juvenile crime. Young people from poorer backgrounds may feel they have less access to activities or any community involvement as they feel of a lower status than others within the community. As a result of this these young people rebel against those of a higher status and act out(i.e. commit crime). Substance abuse is also another factor which is linked to juvenile crime but again this leads back to static social capital. With only strong bonds to a limited group and a restricted sense of belonging substance abuse can also then remain static and desistence from it can be difficult. In order to move young offenders from static social capital and offending to the more positive dynamic social capital a Garda Youth Diversion Programme within communities is essential. Garda Youth Diversion Programmes are local community based activities which work with children from the ages of 11 to 18 . These projects aim to help children move away from behaving in a way that may lead anti social behaviour or engaging in criminal activity. These projects can help young people develop their sense of community and their social skills through different activities. It offers opportunities for education, employment training,art, music, sport and many more activities which will enhance dynamic social capital. The project seeks to encourage a better quality of life for everyone in the community and supports good relations between the Gardai and the community. The community worker will liaise frequently with the Gardai on issues which may need to be tackled and these issues can then be addresses within the activities carried out in the programme. For example if there is a constant occurrence of young people destroying the environment in which they live(breaking windows, graffiti etc.) then an activity based around ownership and taking ownership may be necessary. Garda Youth Diversion Programmes can create dynamic social capital for young people. In participating in the various activities and programmes young people will gain the resources to interact with different groups of other young people and adults. It will allow them to gain diverse networks and engage in a varied range of activities with more choice in how to spend their free time thus moving from the idea of hanging around street corners getting in trouble. Attending this programme frequently will allow youths to develop trust for each other and reciprocity will become a positive sense of return rather than immediate. As the young people form dynamic social capital the will begin to see themselves as part of the community which creates the necessary field for young people to develop bridging social capital. They will begin to develop networks outside of their existing static one and open up opportunities for themselves. Youths who offend are given a second chance and as a community worker it is essential to work with these youths to create positive change and to aid in the prevention of career crime amongst these young people. Gardai Youth Diversion Programmes are an essential tool in achieving this as they allow for the move from static social capital which assist crime to the more hopeful dynamic social capital which helps young people to navigate the challenges everyday life presents them giving them a better chance for the future.