Problem Statement/Overview
Players in the criminal justice system recognize the contribution of family and familial factors to the development of criminal and delinquent tendencies and their potential to minimize minors’ engagement in illegal and socially unacceptable behaviors. Although traditional juvenile justice is widely practiced, enhancing family and familial factors provide an effective intervention for minimizing the potential of delinquency among minors. Family-oriented juvenile delinquency prevention strategies recognize households as the foundational units of society where young adults obtain such societal aspects as socially acceptable and illegal behaviors. Families, especially parents, are an integral element in child development and significantly influence the potential for a child’s involvement in juvenile delinquency. Familial factors such as family structure, cohesion levels, divorcee, and conflictive atmosphere contribute to the potential for delinquency (Delcea, Fabian, Radu, & Dumbrava, 2019; Mwangangi, 2019).
What I did for Research
I established theoretical references for family-based approaches to address juvenile delinquency showing how young adults obtain such societal aspects as socially acceptable and illegal behaviors. In the literature review, I established the relationship between such family factors as parental conflicts, antisocial and criminal parents and siblings, low cohesiveness, and poor parental involvement, and juvenile delinquency is widely documented. I expanded the literature to signify the importance of childhood and adolescence by showing these developmental stages. Children are exposed to acceptable social values, behavioral patterns, and norms. I provided recommendations on pressing the need how to view family in relation to juvenile delinquency, where juvenile justice system resources should be reinvested to support communities and families.
What I Learned from Literature Review and Original Research
According to the survey, children in stable families enjoy the best parental preparation and are least likely to experience behavioral problems. Specifically, the study noted that the separation of minors from their fathers is a leading cause of numerous social issues, including teenage pregnancy, child sexual abuse, and aggressive behaviors (Simmons, Steinberg, Erick, & Cauffman, 2018). Conversely, youths who live and grow up with both parents are least predisposed to such delinquent acts as sexual violence and drug abuse. For instance, one survey established that only 5% of minors who lived with both parents engaged in crime compared to 12% from other family arrangements (Mwangangi, 2019). Disorganized family structures, inappropriate upbringing environments characterized by psychological deficiencies, and poor parental controls are strong predictors and causative agents of juvenile delinquency. Family is a critical stabilizing force with the potential to contribute to the inculcation of positive behavioral disposition or criminal tendencies.
Proposed Solution(s)
As incidences of juvenile delinquency increase, criminal sociologists are advocating for a paradigm shift to family-oriented preventive strategies. Multiple studies demonstrate the significant potential of the family as the single most effective instrument for addressing juvenile antisocial behaviors. In this regard, there is a pressing need to view the family as the initial safety gate for addressing the challenge of juvenile delinquency. Therefore, juvenile justice system resources should be reinvested to support communities and families.
References
Delcea, C., Fabian, A. M., Radu, C. C., & Dumbrava, D. P. (2019). Juvenile delinquency within the forensic context. Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine, 27(4), 366−372. doi: 10.4323/rjlm.2019.366
Mwangangi, R. (2019) The role of family in dealing with juvenile delinquency. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 7, 52−63. doi: 10.4236/jss.2019.73004
Simmons, C., Steinberg, L., Frick, P. J., & Cauffman, E. (2018). The differential influence of absent and harsh fathers on juvenile delinquency. Journal of Adolescence, 62, 9−17. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.10.010