Juvenile crime is a massive problem in any society and any legal system. However, the application of laws and the imposition of punishments for minors is difficult due to their age. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the causes and effects of juvenile crime.
As in adult crimes, often the reasons for it lie in the persons’ environment. A study by Lane (2018) demonstrates four main groups of influence on minors: neighborhood, peers, family, schools. If there are any social problems within these groups, the likelihood of committing a crime increases significantly. It is necessary to understand that the combination of all these factors affects the human psyche. If there are offenders and criminals, there is a high probability that the child will develop similar values.
Thus, the minor will be ready to resort to cruel methods, not considering them wrong. Roughly similar trends were seen in the case of Lionel Tate. According to one version, the teenager committed his crimes in the hope of getting the toys of the girl he killed (Padowitz, 2015). Therefore, for a complete analysis of the causes of crimes committed, it is also necessary to conduct a psychological examination. Such a procedure was not carried out in the context of Tate. However, mental problems could well have occurred, given Tate’s further behavior. In addition, the very commission of a crime at such a young age, as well as imprisonment, has an irreparable impact. Studies show that even strict measures do not deter people from returning to criminal activity in the future (Arora, 2019). The reason for this may be a change in the consciousness of a person after the commission of a crime and close contact with criminal structures. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully analyze the reasons for committing a crime to pass sentences and assess the possible consequences.
Thus, juvenile crime is an extremely complex topic that requires an integrated approach. Children have their characteristic features of committing crimes. If a child or adolescent is in an environment with increased criminality, there is a high probability that they will commit illegal acts. However, punishments must also be selected with extreme caution since they impact the entire future life of a person. In the context of minors, this influence is even greater since, with the wrong approach, the judicial system can form a criminal from childhood, whose rehabilitation will be challenging.
References
Arora, A. (2019). Juvenile crime and anticipated punishment.SSRN. Web.
Lane, J. (2018). Addressing juvenile crime: what have we learned, and how should we proceed?. Criminology & Public Policy, 17(2), 283-307. Web.
Padowitz, K. (2015). “Wrestling Defense.” Murder trial of 12-year-old Lionel Tate | Kenneth Padowitz, P.A.[Video]. Web.