Abstract
This document critically analyzes the role played by the media in heightening juvenile delinquency. It also gives some examples of real incidences where the media compelled juvenile delinquency. In addition, the document points out the harmful effects of juvenile delinquency that include death and physical injury. Moreover, it highlights other factors that have contributed to increased crime rates among the youth. The factors may include, parental negligence and family conflicts, societal moral decay, and influence from various forms of mass media such as television and radio. The document has also pinpointed various ways of curbing juvenile crimes, and their ill effects. These ways include educating the community with utmost emphasis on the youth, government involvement in implementing measures to control the vice, and parental guidance.
Introduction
In the recent past, different media houses have aired countless criminal cases, involving young teenagers and youths. In these cases, young people have committed heinous unlawful activities towards innocent victims, most of whom are their peers. However, adults including parents and teachers have also been victims of these juvenile delinquents, resulting in fatal incidences and severe injuries (Sorrells, 1977). Besides, their various factors have prompted many young people into indulging in criminal activities. Some of these factors include parental negligence, influence from peers, and illegal drugs usage. Besides, the media have been at the forefront of the fight against juvenile-related crimes. Televisions, radios, and newspapers, among other media forms, have been a significant factor in the campaign against juvenile delinquency. On the other hand, the media play a crucial role in escalating juvenile criminal activities within society (Yanich, 2005). In this view, this document aims at critically evaluating the role of various forms of media in escalating juvenile delinquency, and ways to curb the vice.
Media Impact and other factors
Over the years, the media have been at the forefront in informing, educating, as well as entertaining the mass among all societal members across the globe. Besides, media come in many forms, examples being newspapers, televisions, the Internet, and various informative journals (Yanich, 2005). However, some information aired by the media has proved to be severely detrimental to the psychological health of young people, thereby compelling them to involvement in criminal activities. Moreover, a recent survey indicated that 90% of the interviewed youths agreed to the fact that the media negatively affects their behavior. Besides, a group of teens arrested for scores of robbery activities claimed to have gotten the influence from rap music they saw on TV. They admitted having been involved in these activities, since it was the in-thing, thus heightening what researchers view as copycat crimes (Surette, 2002). This makes sense since young people are exceptionally adept at imitating what perceive from the media. Moreover, the media portray the real situation in society.
In the era of modernity and technological advancement, many teenagers have unlimited and unmonitored access to the Internet. However, though the Internet is a valuable tool in educating and entertaining, it also comes with a package of other appalling features. Many people have been able to a have way into pornographic sites, thereby polluting their innocent minds. Besides, it exposes the youth to violent-related computer games that provoke them into doing what they visualize.
In addition, most movies use violence and vulgar language thus reflecting the society as a cruel place without love for one another, depicting revenge as an accepted norm. Moreover, while reporting about criminal incidences, the media usually exaggerates facts, thereby misinforming society. The media also depict crime as a normal occurrence in society. As a result, the media give a wrong perception of crime statistics, thus forcing young people to engage in violence. In a survey conducted on a group of juvenile convicts, many admitted to learning crime concepts from various television shows (Surette, 2002).
In media reporting of criminal incidences, gender imbalance is rampant. The media reflect the male youths as being macho and prone to criminal activities. This causes many male teenagers to think and act in that manner, as opposed to their female counterparts, thereby increasing rates of criminal frequency in numerous societal settings.
Technological expertise has also aggravated the dilemma of juvenile delinquency. Through various social networks, teenagers can communicate with diverse people globally. Moreover, they use these sites to share information, most of which may be harmful to them. Besides, some terror groups have taken advantage of these sites to recruit innocent youth, without the knowledge of their parents or caregivers. This has been possible since remarkably few parents monitor their kids’ access to the media.
On the other hand, society is to blame for the increased crime rates perpetrated by young offenders. Many parents and caregivers have neglected their teenage children, since they are always busy in their professions, and lack time to teach children the time-honored norms and cultural values of society. Furthermore, family conflicts and marriage break-ups have had a severe impact on accelerating youth participation in the crime. As a result, families up-bring undisciplined children who rely on the media and peers as a source of comfort and information. Besides, misinformed youths are subject to crime. Moreover, some community members serve as imperfect examples to the teenagers (Patchin, Huebner, McCluskey, & Varano, et al., 2006).
Curbing Juvenile Delinquency
To win the battle against juvenile delinquency, the concerned parties should focus on eliminating factors that exacerbate crime among teenagers. The involved parties should conduct thorough research on areas most subject to juvenile crimes. Furthermore, there should be accurate information on juvenile crime prevalence. This will help in uncovering the main factors that lead to juvenile crime, and thereby aid in controlling youth-related crimes.
To begin with, the media has the freedom of sharing information. However, the government should implement laws that control information aired through the media. In addition, the authorities should set in place stern punitive measures, in a bid to deter media companies from airing materials that negatively affect the psychological health of young society members. Besides, the media should be actively involved in combating juvenile law-breaking through advertisement and informative programming.
Moreover, members of various societies should initiate campaigns aimed at educating the youth against criminal activities. This may be in the form of seminars, workshops, and charity walks. In addition, since most teenagers engage in crime because of being idle, they should be heartened to engage in community services such as voluntary services in various projects, in a bid to free them from idleness (Hoffmann & Xu, 2002). Youth should also be encouraged to involve themselves in schools’ extracurricular activities such as sports and different social clubs available in most schools (Hoffmann & Xu, 2002).
Parents and caregivers should dedicate more time to being with their children, and advise them on upstanding moral values accepted in society. They should also be an exemplary role model since children are better at imitating than listening.. Moreover, if the youth engage in repeated crimes, the concerned parties should take them to appropriate psychiatrists, where qualified personnel will counsel them against crime involvement. Moreover, in severe incidences, parents should send the affected teenagers to rehabilitation centers for behavior change. Once out of the rehabilitation center, counselors should monitor the youth, since there may be cases of recurrent crime involvement. The counselor can organize weekly sessions, where they can meet with the affected youth and discourage them from reiterating in crime.
In addition, parents’ duty should ensure that teenagers have controlled access to various forms of media that may negatively influence the youths’ behavior. Young people should be encouraged to engage themselves in academic work, and avoid the idleness associated with too much media exposure.
The media have been actively involved in enlightening and entertaining society members globally. Nevertheless, it possesses a substantial impact that impels the youth towards engaging in criminal activities (Sorrells, 1977). Violent movies series aired by different media houses have influenced many young teenagers to engage in crime. Besides, the family is also accountable for the escalation of crime rates within societies. Many modern parents have neglected their teenage children, who have resorted to peers in search of acceptance and comfort.
Conclusion
To curb this misdemeanor, all concerned parties must work together and use all the available resources to control the vice. The authorities should pass laws that govern the information aired by the media. In addition, besides airing nonviolent programs, they should also play their role in educating society against criminal activities (Yanich, 2005). Besides, parents should create time for their children and teach them socially acceptable norms. Moreover, teenagers should be willing to change their ill behaviors, since they are the worst affected by criminal activities. Once put into practice, the battle against juvenile delinquency will be a success.
References
Hoffmann, J., & Xu, J. (2002). School Activities, Community Service, and Delinquency. Crime & Delinquency, 48, 586-591.
Patchin, J., Huebner, B., McCluskey, J., & Varano, S., et al. (2006). Exposure to Community Violence and Childhood Delinquency. Crime & Delinquency, 52, 307-332.
Sorrells, J. (1977). Kids Who Kill. Crime & Delinquency, 23, 311-320.
Surette, R. (2002). Self-Reported Copycat Crime among a Population of Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders. Crime & Delinquency, 48, 46-69.
Yanich, D. (2005). Kids, Crime, and Local Television News. Crime & Delinquency, 51, 103-132.