What lies in the future of our youth?

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Recommended: Causes of Juvenile Delinquency

What lies in the future of our youth? Do we really know? The beliefs should be believed that we have the power to mold the minds of our children, that we have to take any steps necessary to make sure that the mold is something that we would like to see in our up and coming youth molded into, and that we cannot allow this mold to be broken. Our basic survival depends on those minds of our youth that we need to take the time to mold today.

Youth delinquency is a massively growing problem in the United States today. Youth delinquency “refers to abnormal social or legal behavior by children or adolescents, for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not all of which can be applied to the causes of youth crime” (Youth Delinquency, 1999 p.1). A youth (juvenile) delinquent is one who repeatedly commits crime. There are multiple reasons for the increase in criminal activity amount the nation’s youthful population.

“A substantial amount of research has been devoted to the factors that may put youth at risk for delinquency. These risk factors can be found in every life domain (individual, family, school, community, and peer group), and everyone experiences some degree of risk in his or her life. With regard to juvenile delinquency, the number, types, duration, timing and severity of risks may increase the likelihood that a youth will engage in antisocial behavior” (Christle, Jolivette and Nelson, 2005 p. 70). Delinquent and criminal behavior among young people, as they negotiate the transition from childhood to adulthood, is an increasingly complex and confusing world. For many young people today, traditional patterns guiding the relations...

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...quency. “With the development of delinquency in youth being influenced by numerous factors, prevention efforts are comprehensive in scope. Prevention services include activities such as substance abuse education and treatment, family counseling, youth mentoring, parenting education, educational support, and youth sheltering” (Youth Delinquency, 1999 p.4). These protective measures should also include protective factors, such as things as strong social support systems, positive role-models and psycho-social education. Encouraging our youth to volunteer promotes civic-mindedness and gives them the opportunity to associate with other positive youths and people. When our youth are being held accountable and takes responsibility for all of their actions and behaviors, they will have a better and more balanced self-esteem and more confident when dealing with the world.

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