CRJ 309 Youth and Crime
Thomas N. Davidson, JD
www.thinblueline.ws/students
Textbook
Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. C. (2012). Juvenile delinquency:
Theory, practice, and law (11th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth.
Boys will be boys?
Over and over again, the degree to which we accept
violent or threatening behavior is dependent upon
either the age of the perpetrator or whether a domestic
relationship exists. A twelve-year-old who punches
and kicks another twelve-year-old at the park might be
dismissed as just “boys will be boys”. The frequent
incidence of spousal, child, and domestic abuse in the
United States has been well documented. What is the
natural consequence of this violence? Karl Menninger
once said, “What’s done to children, they will do to
society.”
Proverbs
Contrary to the many other opinions, I believe the Bible was intended to
instruct us in all areas of life. We do not find the concept of
compartmentalizing one’s life into secular and religious realms. God
has provided the principles for righteous living in all things (1 Peter 1:3).
Still, in our American Democratic-Republic form of government, the
government cannot dictate to us what to religion, if any, to follow. But,
that does not mean that God and the Bible's teachings cannot
influence our choices and decision making when confronting issues
and problems in the criminal justice setting. I challenge you to
incorporate faith in your learning experience anytime it is appropriate
to do so. Proverbs is an interesting book on the surface, but it is not just
another collection of ancient sayings. It is, rather, a collection of
inspired truths in memorable and vivid forms. Proverbs covers a wide
range of topics. There are proverbs concerning wealth, wisdom, friends,
family, work, and worldliness.
The Adolescent Dilemma
 1980 nearly 80% of juveniles under the age of 17 were
white, non-Hispanic.
 1980 about 18% were black, non-Hispanic.
 1980 about 11 % were Hispanic.
 2010 about 58% were white.
 2010 about 17% were black.
 2010 about 22% were Hispanic
 2010 about 3% were all other races.
Ego Identity
 Ego identity is formed when youths develop a full
sense of the self, combining how they see themselves
and how they fit with others.
Role diffusion
 Role diffusion occurs when people spread themselves
too thin, experience personal uncertainty, and place
themselves at the mercy of people who promise to give
them a sense of identity they cannot develop for
themselves. Example: Gangs.
 For a discussion on what factors increase the chances
of gang activity among juveniles got to:
http://www.lao.ca.gov/1995/050195_juv_crime/kkpart3
.aspx
At Risk Youth
 Young people extremely vulnerable t the negative
consequences of school failure, substance abuse, and
early sexuality.
Cynical & Preoccupied with
Material Acquisitions
By the time they reach 18, most young people have spent
more time in front of the TV than in the classroom.
They see thousands of depictions of rape, assault,
murder, theft, and other anti-social behaviors. They
also listen to hours of music with violent and sexual
content. Research indicates that kids who listen to
music with sexual content are more likely to engage in
precocious sex than those who don’t.
Each day in America:
 2 mothers die in childbirth
 4 children are killed by abuse or neglect
 5 children or teens commit suicide
 9 children or teens are killed by firearms
 32 die from accidents
 202 arrested for violent crimes
 377 arrested for drug crimes
 964 babies are born at low birthrate
 1,210 babies are born to teen mothers
Each day in America continued:
 1,240 public school students corporally punished
 2,060 babies born without health insurance
 2,175 children are confirmed as abused or neglected
 2,222 drop out of high school
 2,692 babies are born into poverty
 4,435 children are arrested
 4,498 babies are born to unwed mothers
 18,493 public school students are suspended from
school
Poor Education
 About 70% of all 4th graders cannot read at level
 About 90% of blacks
 About 80% of Latino
 About 80% of American Indian
 Black children are about 50% more likely to drop out
of school than white children; in part caused by poor
reading ability that leads to stress
What is Juvenile Delinquency?
Participation in illegal behavior by a minor who falls under a
statutory age limit:
IC 31-37-1-1 Delinquent child defined
Sec. 1. A child is a delinquent child if, before becoming eighteen (18) years of
age, the child commits a delinquent act described in this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20.
IC 31-37-1-2 Delinquent act
Sec. 2. A child commits a delinquent act if, before becoming eighteen (18)
years of age, the child commits an act that would be an offense if committed by
an adult, except an act committed by a person over which the juvenile court
lacks jurisdiction under IC 31-30-1.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.20
Ind. Constitution on Juvenile
Delinquency
 Article IX, Section 2. The General Assembly shall
provide institutions for the correction and reformation
of juvenile offenders.
(History: As Amended November 6, 1984).
Chronic Delinquent Offenders
 Have been arrested four or more times
 Perpetuate the majority of serious juvenile crimes
 Do not “age out” of crime and continue criminal
behavior in adulthood
 About 6% of offenders
Aging-Out and Persistence
 Aging-out is the tendency for youths to reduce
criminal activity as they grow older.
 Persistence is the process by which offenders persist in
their delinquent careers instead of aging-out.
Historic Perspective of Childhood
 Paternalistic family is a family where the father is the final
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authority
Lower class children were expected to engage in adult roles as
soon as physically able to work or learn a trade
Children of nobility also entered adulthood early, but had
greater opportunity for education. Girls were likely to be
married off early in their teens.
Primogeniture was the right during the middle ages of 1st born
sons to inherit land and title. Male siblings had the option of the
military or clergy.
Dower system demanded that the family of a woman bestow
land, money, or property to the man who would marry her.
Swaddling was the practice of wrapping babies in cloth to restrict
their movements and make them easier to manage.
Historic Perspective of Childhood
 Poor laws (1535) allowed courts to appoint overseers
over neglected and destitute children and allowing
placement of these children in homes as servants
 Chancery courts created to oversee the lives of
highborn minors who were orphaned or could not care
for themselves
 Parens patriae means the power of the government to
act on behalf of the child similar to that of a parent
 Child savers (19th Century) formed to develop
programs and reforms.
Best Interest of the Child
Parens Patriae: A philosophical and legal viewpoint that
encourages the state to take control of wayward
children and provide care, custody, and treatment to
remedy delinquent behavior.
Status Offenses
Conduct is only illegal because the offender is under age.
 Smoking and drinking
 Skipping school
 Runaway
 Participating in sex
 Curfew
 Profanity
 Disobeying parents
 Truantcy
Part I Crimes
Serious crimes against property and people
 Murder
 Rape
 Burglary
 Arson
 Motor vehicle theft
 Theft
 Aggravated assult
Part II Crimes
All other crimes that are not Part I crimes
 Public intoxication
 Driving under the influence
 Littering
 Disorderly conduct, et cetera
 Drug use
What the data says
 More than 13.6 million arrests each year
 2.3 million are Part I crimes
 11 million are less serious Part II crimes
 Juveniles are arrested for approximately 15% of Part I
violent crimes and 24% Part I property crimes
 Kids 14-17 account for only 6% of population, but are
arrested for a disproportionate amount of crime.
 1.1 million juvenile arrests in 2009 for Part II offenses
 74,000 status offenses arrests in 2009
Time and Place
 Most delinquent acts occur in summer months of July
& August
 Large urban areas have largest violent offender rates
 Rural areas have lowest violent offender rates
 Western & southern states have consistently higher
rates of delinquency
Gender and Delinquency
 Males significantly more delinquent (about 4 to 1 for
violent crimes and 2 to 1 for property crimes)
 Girls more likely to runaway
 See Table 2.3 page 56.
Race and Delinquency
 There are about 41 million white and 9 million African
American youths from ages 5 to 17 (Ratio of 5 to 1)
 70% of juveniles arrested are white; 28% African
American (Ratio of 2.5 to 1)
 Disproportionate number of arrests between the races
 May be due to discrimination or that African American
youths have a greater chance of being arrested.
 Racial Threat Theory – valid?
 Racial Profiling
Causes of Delinquency
 Socioeconomic Status Theory
 Cognitive Behavior Theory
 Rational Choice Theory
 Trait Theory
 Biosocial Theory
 Psychological Theory
Motives for Violent Delinquent
Behavior
 Control – victim’s life
 Retribution – punish wrongdoer
 Deterrence – stop hostile or threatening acts
 Reputation – create self importance
Crime Prevention& Deterrence
Crime Prevention
Crime Deterrence
Likelihood
Desire
Ability
Desire
of being
caught
Opportunity
Gravity of harm if caught
Routine Activities Theory
 Capable Guardians
 Motivated Offenders
 Suitable Targets
Figure 3.1 page 84.