Introduction Countless studies from respected sociologists, criminologists, and psychologists have suggested several theories as to why juvenile delinquency exists. The theory this paper uses to explain for juvenile delinquency is the Marxist perspective of the Conflict Theory. What this paper seeks to achieve is to show how this theory is conceptualized, how it causes juvenile delinquency particularly for African Americans, statistics on African American juveniles, and why it could lead to a life of crime as juveniles transition into adulthood. In addition to this, the government will be examined on how it uses the legal system, law enforcement, and certain officials to control most of the population and contribute to this problem. Lastly, this paper will explore possible treatments, preventive measures, and solutions to help stop African American juvenile delinquency. Discussion The Marxist perspective theory falls under Sociological Positivism. Bartollas and Miller (2014) posit that the Marxist perspective sees the government and the legal process as instruments that the elites, or bourgeoisie, use to control the masses. Turk (1982) states that capitalism is the root cause which forces juveniles to commit crime. In addition, Turk (1982) posits that the main reason for conflict relates to wealth. This is because the elites, who make up a small portion of the population, control most of the wealth in the country. The working class, on the other hand, comprises the largest portion of the population and is continually exploited to the point of breaking down where they are forced to turn to crime to survive. Quinney (1977) states the Positivist view calls for treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents since youth’s behav... ... middle of paper ... ...lation Profiles. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/asp/profile_display.asp Johnson, J. B., & Secret, P. E. (1990). “Race And Juvenile Court Decision Making Revisited.” Criminal Justice Policy Review, 4(2), 159-187. Lundivian, R. J., McFarlane, P. T., & Scarpitti, F. R. (1976). “Delinquency Prevention: A Description And Assessment Of Projects Reported In The Professional Literature.” Crime & Delinquency, 22(3), 297-308. Quinney, R. (1977). Class, state, and crime: On the theory and practice of criminal justice. New York: D. McKay Co 179-180. OJJDP: Juvenile offenders and victims, 1999 National Report. (n.d), National Report. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.ncjrs.gov/html/ojjdp/nationalreport99 Onwediwe, I. (2004). “Theoretical Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency: Root Causes and Control.” ProQuest Criminal Justice, 66, 153-156.
The study of Juvenile delinquency and the theories pertaining to it are vital for several reasons. In order to more effectively engage with youths and foster positive behavior and schemas, the individuals must first be understood. The study of theory provides a means of understanding adolescents and the factors that lead to or detract from delinquent behavior. In the case of juvenile delinquent, Jordan Brown, theory helps to provide insight into why an eleven-year-old boy murdered his stepmother.
Males, M. and D. Macallair (2000). “ The Color of Justice: An Analysis of Juvenile Justice
Siegel, Larry J, and Brandon C. Welch. "chapter 5." Juvenile Delinquency: The Core. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2005. Print.
The youth justice system’s functions are to not only regulate the laws and ramifications of crime in the youth population, but to rehabilitate and reintroduce these juveniles into society. Of the three criminological explanations that can shape a juvenile justice system; individual, situational and social structural, social structural implications is by far the most effective ideology in shaping a modern youth justice system. Shaw and McKay (1942) emphasize in their studies that youth deviance is strongly linked to the social structure they belong to. In support of this theory, Cunneen and White (2011) state that crime is a social phenomenon that can not be directly connected to a person’s individual or personal biology. With that being said, there are a number of theories that can be best used to construct a youth justice system from a social structural angle, including; social strain or social disorganization, social bonds and differential association theories. Each of these theories, from their own theoretical angle, can provide framework and ideologies on how to better the youth justice system in a number of facets in order to target modern youths’ social structural and delinquency struggles.
Thompson, W, & Bynum, J. (1991). Juvenile delinquency. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
**Lynch, Michael J. and Patterson, Britt, Race and Criminal Justice (New York: Harrow and Heinstien, 1991)
Siegal, L. J., & Senna, J. J. (1991). Juvenile delinquency: Theory, practice, & law (4th ed.). St. Paul: West Publishing.
Race and Juvenile Justice addresses the correlation between race, juvenile delinquency, and justice. Through various essays addressing historical backgrounds, part one discusses racial disparities regarding the juvenile delinquency of White, Latino, Black, Asian American, and Native American youth. Part two explores significant issues such as domestic violence, gang involvement, the application of the death penalty to juveniles, disproportionate minority confinement, the due process revolution, and the positive and negative effects of both prevention and intervention. Through this compilation, Everette Penn, Helen Taylor Greene, and Shaun L. Gabbidon attempt to provide answers for the occurrence of racial disparity with regard to juvenile delinquency and solutions as to how to address and prevent the age old problem that continues to plague The United States.
Jenson, Jeffrey and Howard, Matthew. "Youth Crime, Public Policy, and Practice in the Juvenile Justice System: Recent Trends and Needed Reforms." Social Work 43 (1998): 324-32
Thompson, W. E. and Bynum J. E. (2010). Juvenile Delinquency: A sociological Approach Eighth Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Many in the juvenile justice field have tried to understand the cause of juvenile delinquency. There are many different theories describe the cause and effect of variables and how they react. However, through much research, we have concluded there is not just one single path or journey that determines the fate of the juvenile. There are many different risk factors that build in order to increase a youth's chance of becoming an offender. This is kind of like a domino effect. Risk factors are described as the characteristics that present themselves to determine if the individual or youth will become a delinquent. These factors may include; home life, income status, gender, and social. It can either be one or all that play a part in the way the
Mulder, E., Brand, E., Bullens, R., & Van Marle, H. (2010). A classification of risk factors in serious juvenile offenders and the relation between patterns of risk factors and recidivism. Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health, 20(1), 23-38. doi:10.1002/cbm.754
The Marxist perspective theory falls under Sociological Positivism. Bartollas and Miller (2013) posit that the Marxist perspective sees the government and the legal process as instruments that the elites, or bourgeoisie, use to control the masses. Furthermore, capitalism is the root cause that forces juveniles to commit crime. Consequently, the main reason for conflict relates to wealth. This is because the elites who make up a small portion of the population, control most of the wealth in the country (Turk, 1982). The working class, on the other hand, comprises the largest portion of the population and is continually exploited to the point of being forced to turn to crime to survive. Quinney (1977) states the Positivist view calls for treatment and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents since youths’ behavior are not entirely their fault but because of con...
Loeber R., and D.P. Farrington. “Serious and violent juvenile offenders: Risk factors and successful interventions.” Thousand Oaks. 1998. First Search. Feb 2007
Bridges, K. M. Banham . "Factors Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 17.4 (1927): 531-76. scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu. Web. 15 Mar. 2014.