In recent years, we have all noticeably observed the alarming rise of deviant behavior amongst teenagers. This most often leads to one of the most concerning problems, known as juvenile delinquency. It is when a minor breaks the law. Delinquency is an antisocial and criminal behavior that a person under the age of 18 i.e., a person who is not an adult commits.
However, the judicial system holds the view that young people who commit crimes are not fully conscious of what they are doing. They consider that a minor’s thought and decision-making processes are not completely formed. Therefore, criminal defense lawyers approach these cases in a different manner. In many cases, a minor can get past the crime they committed and go on to pursue a crime-free adult life.
We will discuss what makes teenagers commit delinquency and on what basis criminal defense law firms can free a delinquent minor from jail time.
Causes of Juvenile Delinquency
Problems at School
Delinquency in juveniles often starts at school. Many factors connected to school or the classroom can cause a kid to engage in criminal activities. Criminal defense lawyers classify bullying in schools as one of the major causes of disturbances at school. Bullying targets or humiliates a specific child which may in turn make that kid violent. This leads to truancy, where a child who frequently skips school will neither benefit from the education provided nor be disciplined/respect the rules of the school.
When a youngster struggles academically or has a parent who is unconcerned with making sure that their child attends school frequently, the child may eventually find himself or herself in circumstances that encourage criminal behavior.
However, truancy, bullying and other causes of disturbances can be addressed and resolved, allowing the child to go on to lead a life free from crime.
Disturbances at Home
When criminal defense lawyers get a case regarding juvenile delinquency, they first study the family dynamics of the juvenile. It is because teenagers learn their morals and ethics from their parents and other family members. Families undoubtedly have a significant impact on how a teen behaves and their personality.
Teenagers mostly act violently or display juvenile delinquent signs when there is a disturbance at home. Teenagers who grow up in dysfunctional or unstable environments with strained relationships may misbehave or get violent.
Since single parents are frequently working, they are usually unable to spend quality time with their kids. Teenagers become more socially awkward as a result, especially among their peers or at school.
Lack of Communication
Lack of conversation or sharing in the home can frequently cause kids to seek solace elsewhere. They may lack harmony, trust, and understanding when they are unable to communicate with their parents or other family members at home, which eventually lowers their self-esteem or confidence.
They often act inappropriately to bolster their self-confidence when they believe they are losing their originality. Such teenagers are bound to accept the harmful habits of their peers and follow them wholeheartedly. They tend to engage in deviant behaviors like stealing or involvement in drugs.
Financial Issues
Young or old, a person could take the incorrect road in an effort to improve their financial situation. Teenagers who lack resources often develop into juvenile offenders. They may start participating in wrongful activities when they endure difficult economic times. To raise their income, they can start stealing or selling drugs.
Lack of Social and Moral Training
Teenagers who have not received any social or moral instruction frequently become juvenile offenders. It is the responsibility of parents to instill moral and ethical principles in their children. Youngsters need to be taught the distinction between appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
Children who lack social and moral principles may interact poorly with others and lack confidence. They can start acting conceited and haughty and thus, wouldn’t understand how to uphold the state’s laws.
Parents frequently overlook their kids in favor of putting in long hours to earn a living and support their children. They neglect the value of spending quality time with their kids in the process.
Children like to spend time with people who are interested in them while their parents aren’t there. This might make them seek attention from people other than their parents, which could lead them to falling into the wrong hands or joining a dangerous group.
Violence Breeds violence
Most potential offenders are frequently the ones who suffer violence. Kids may encounter violence in a range of social contexts, including their families, schools, and workplaces. Children who have been exposed to substance abuse at home or somewhere else are more likely to have delinquent behavior.
They have strained relationships with adults, are unable to engage with their peers, and usually turn into “bullies” in an effort to gain attention. In certain cases, they may even draw connections between their fate and a criminal environment.
Bad Influence or Peer Pressure
The people that are associated with a minor can have a dramatic effect on what choices they make when they are away from home. Peer pressure is a very real thing, and minors will often act out in front of their “friends” so that they can feel accepted and part of a group.
In more dangerous neighborhoods, you may also see children acting out in fear of gang activity. Minors make choices to protect themselves or to impress gang members to protect their own safety. Peer influence and personal safety can lead to a life of crime for any minor.
Of course, there may be many other factors that can contribute to a minor violating the law. Because these circumstances can be the deciding factor in breaking the law or not, the court system looks very carefully at the entire situation when reviewing a case involving a minor.
Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency
The prevention of juvenile delinquency is a complex problem that has very few to no solutions. The only reasonable precaution is to study the risk factors and causes that lead teenagers to commit crime. Only through this can criminal lawyers save minors from wasting their lifetime behind the bars.
The criminal justice system and law along with the society must make reforms to create awareness regarding the causes of delinquent behaviors in juveniles, remove the taboo against rehab centers and urge parents to take counseling sessions with their kids.
