Introduction
In developed countries, Juvenile criminal behavior is on the increase. Numerous studies have been conducted to ascertain the causes of this behavior. Although much effort has been concentrated on the study of violent behavior, little has been done to explain the reasons behind the escalation from non-aggressive to aggressive offending (Murray & Farrington, 2005). It has been identified that peer pressure, family behavior, school performance, and environment are the key causes of the escalation of delinquent behavior amongst juveniles. The study of these causes can provide an understanding of delinquent juveniles’ behaviors. In the United States of America, the government has come up with various ways to respond to the increasing teenage crimes. The government has enhanced interventions through justice system, social awareness, biological approach, and utilization of services.
A brief overview of the article
The article studies the degree at which feelings, family units, and surrounding correlates are linked with the increase of non-aggressive to aggressive offending among the imprisoned teenagers (Dorn & Williams, 2003). In the article, data from 50 respondents were collected. The respondents comprised of 25 escalators and 25 maintainers of non-aggressive criminals from a prison facility in Midwestern USA. Ideas that associate security and an aggressive home environment were significant in the understanding escalation in criminal behavior, and prior criminal victimization was less important. Recommendations for individual and family precautionary interventions and criminal behavior theories are examined in the article. The journal’s findings suggest that individual thoughts on the relations between power and safety and violent family setting are significant correlates that can be used in distinguishing between the escalators and maintainers (Kurtz, 2002). In the findings, prior criminal victimization remains moderately significant throughout the models.
Description of the research problem
The research problem focuses on identifying whether both family and personality correlates are significant in identifying teenagers who escalate to violent criminals in contrast to those who participate in nonviolent criminal behavior. In the article, the authors acknowledge several existing studies with the aim of emphasizing on the research problem. Richard Van Dorn and James Herbert Williams argue that existing literatures support their perceptions about the escalation of delinquent behavior in incarcerated youths. Therefore, their main intention of carrying out this study was to expand on the existing knowledge. Dorn and Williams approached the research problem differently to benefit of all stakeholders and criminal justice scholars (Lodge, 2007).
Research methods
The information used in the project was collected through interviews. The authors assert that the interview sessions were conducted for about two hours. The sample was evenly shared between the youths apprehended and judged for non-violent offense and then afterward rearrested and judged for violent offenses. Thereafter, the sample was evenly shared between the youths who had been first apprehended and judged for non-violent offenses and then rearrested and judged for non-violent offenses. The court proceedings were used to settle on the selection of the participants. Each participant was paid through the prisons account. Using the existing literatures, the researchers noted that early start and conviction increases the chance of youths turning from non-aggressive to aggressive criminals (Kivivuori, 2000). In line with the existing literatures, the authors identified trivial connections between criminals and increased connection with the justice system.
Article’s results, findings, and recommendations
After the collection of data, the researchers employed orderly regression studies to scrutinize the association of thoughts towards a bunch of hooligans, perception about control and security, criminal discrimination, and aggressive home surroundings. Perceptions about the gangs and the thoughts about power and safety were fed into the regression model. Through this, the link between thoughts and beliefs about the escalation of criminal behavior were obtained. As such, the overall chi- square [x2 (1, N=50) = 4.064, P< 0.05] determining the number of times a juvenile is apprehended was fairly considerable at the initial step. At the subsequent step, optimistic thoughts about the gang participation and attitudes about security and influence were fed into the model. Optimistic attitudes about the gangs were significant (p-0.06) in distinguishing between the two criminal behavior classifications. The results indicated that optimistic attitudes about the gangs were 1.84 times more likely to have spiral to an aggressive offense. Similarly, those with attitudes complimentary to control and security were 1.70 times more likely to have spiraled in their aggressive habits.
Article’s contributions to the existing literature
Dorn and Williams came up with a scholarly journal article that contributes hugely to the existing literature on the subject of the correlates associated with the escalation of delinquent behavior in imprisoned youths. The article provides a current analysis of the degree to which feelings, family units, and surrounding correlates are linked with the increase from non-aggressive to aggressive offending among the imprisoned teenagers. The authors acknowledged the existing literatures about delinquent behavior in imprisoned youths. The journal article effectively contributes to the existing literature by presenting new knowledge about 25 escalators and 25 maintainers of non-aggressive criminals from a prison facility in Midwestern USA. Similar to existing studies, the researchers found that personal thoughts on the relations between power and safety and violent family setting are significant correlates able to distinguish between the escalators and maintainers.
Article critique
The researchers carried out comprehensive studies to ensure that their final product was well within the accepted norms for statistical significance and deviation. As such, the researchers employed hierarchical regression analyses to examine the independent association of thoughts towards a bunch of hooligans, perception about power and safety, criminal discrimination in the past and violent home environment with criminal behavior classification. In this regard, the article is acknowledged as a vital source of knowledge related to the escalation of violent behavior among the youths.
Although the researchers did outstanding studies on the topic, it should be noted that all the respondents were males. It would have been better if the data had been collected from both male and respondents. Nowadays, more females are involved in violent behavior just like their male counterparts (Wei, & Stouthamer-Loeber, 2002). I believe that the reasons why women engaged in such behaviors are distinct from the reasons why males engage in the same behaviors. Therefore, if data could have been collected from both male and female respondents, comprehensive findings on delinquent behavior among the youths could have been presented.
Conclusion
Through the journal, the authors present well-researched and reliable information concerning delinquent behavior among the youths. In the USA, the majority of the teenagers are involved in some of criminal behavior prior to progressing to the late adolescent stage. The researchers assert that a number of studies have identified a trivial connection between criminals and increased relation with the judicial justice system. If law enforcers can successfully identify the correlates of escalation earlier in the youths’ lives, they can put in place measures to intervene and minimize their chances of escalating to violent individuals (Dorn & Williams, 2003). The article contributes hugely to the existing literature on the subject. In general, the article is quite effective with its findings and recommendations, its research methodology, and its contribution to the existing research.
References
Dorn, R., & Williams, J. (2003). Corelates Associated with Escalation of Delinquent Behaviour in Incarcerated Youths. Social Work Journal, 48(4), 1-9.
Fougere, A., & Potter, S. (2009). Psychopathy And Offence Severity In Sexually Aggressive And Violent Youth. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 19(4), 247-252.
Kivivuori, J. (2000). Delinquent Behaviour, Psychosomatic Symptoms And The Idea Of ‘Healthy Delinquency’. Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention, 1(2), 121-139.
Kurtz, A. (2002). What Works For Delinquency? The Effectiveness Of Interventions For Teenage Offending Behaviour. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry, 13(3), 671 692.
Lodge, G. J. (2007). Assessing Risk Of Violent Behaviour. Psychiatric Bulletin, 21(11), 703-706.
Murray, J., & Farrington, D. P. (2005). Parental Imprisonment: Effects On Boys’ Antisocial Behaviour And Delinquency Through The Life-course. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46(12), 1269-1278.
Wei, E. H., Loeber, R., & Stouthamer-Loeber, M. (2002). How Many Of The Offspring Born To Teenage Fathers Are Produced By Repeat Serious Delinquents?. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 12(1), 83-98.