Research Proposal
It has been a challenging phenomenon in arriving at the factors contributing to this issue of juvenile delinquency. There are various incidences which have been linked to this state of affair. There are contributing factors in the psychopathic disorders and academic performance which are linked to juvenile delinquency ( Margari et al., 2015). According to the sources reviewed and the evaluation made pertaining to this issue, it can be averred that parental upbringing and behavioral factors are some of the main contributors to crime among adolescents. However, it should be also noted that family mental background contributes a lot to the perceived behavior of the juveniles. Recent studies have also indicated a decline in the criminal activities among the juveniles in the past ten years with significant rates ranging as far as 11% (Hockenberry & Puzzanchera, 2015).
Research Questions
What are the contributing factors to cases of juvenile delinquency?
What are the factors leading to the recorded decline in the rates of juvenile delinquency?
Are demographic diversity factors to consider in the study on juvenile delinquency?
Objectives of the Research
To investigate the contributing factors to the cases of juvenile delinquency
To find out the factors responsible for the decline in the state of juvenile delinquency
To establish the demographic roles in connection to the situation
Methodology
There was the application of secondary sources of data collection in this study in which there was a review of the existing bibliography databases. There was the application of all the search terms in the entire study. The review was inclined on the findings from other sources and the conclusion from the same. The articles which were found not to have met the threshold required were entirely excluded from the process.
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Upon conclusion of the review process, it was resolved that the study needs the inclusion of primary sources of data such as observation and issuing of questionnaires preferably at correctional facilities handling juveniles. In addition, there was the inclusion of other samples such as the parents of the juveniles with criminal records.
Major Findings from the Field
Research by Taheri and Welsh (2016) indicates that 52% of juvenile offenders have education achievement problems. Approximately 34% recorded the occurrence of psychopathic disorders in their family history (Margari et al., 2015). As a conclusion, it is recommended that there is a need to take into consideration the specific treatment of specific criminal records.
It is appropriate to have a detailed analysis of the relation between family issues and crime activities persistence in a juvenile. This relationship can make the study to have a twist in focus as this is one field which has not been given deserved attention yet as seen contributes a lot to the problem. In addition, ethnicity, gender, and race also have an impact on the issue of juvenile delinquency ( Piquero, Schubert, & Brame, 2014). These findings are essential as they lead the research in exploring and exploiting the potential variables that have an influence on the study.
Annotated Bibliography
Agnew, R. (2014). Social concern and crime: Moving beyond the assumption of simple self ‐ interest. Criminology , 52 (1), 1-32.
The author argues that crime should generally be seen beyond personal or individual interests. According to studies which the author is familiar with, there is confirmation crime is not only individual triggered, but societal factors also play a significant role. Importantly, the study has found out that there is a stronger linkage between social concern and the incidences of crime. Additionally, there are the reasons which put the direct effects of these criminal activities to the social settings of society. These discussion and findings give a great insight into the study about juvenile delinquency in that the criminal activities committed by the individuals are not triggered only by their own making. It, therefore, creates an impression that when looking at criminal activities among the juveniles, there are cases of societal contributions.
de Vries, S. L., Hoeve, M., Assink, M., Stams, G. J. J., & Asscher, J. J. (2015). Practitioner review: effective ingredients of prevention programs for youth at risk of persistent juvenile delinquency–recommendations for clinical practice. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry , 56 (2), 108-121.
The authors in this study were focused in finding out the reasons leading to persistent delinquency among the juveniles and whether the laid down structures have contributed to reducing the cases and incidences of crime. Their aim was to authenticate the best parameters to be used in reducing the rate of juvenile delinquency. Pertaining to the methodology, a sample was selected from the juveniles who have a persistent record of engaging in delinquency. The participants in the study were juveniles and youths aged between 6 years to 20 years. From the results, it is established that the focus on parenting skills, behavioral modeling, and contracting contributes significantly to behavioral change. Again, it was realized that programs with less intensive involvement create a better avenue for behavioral change. These statistics will be of importance for the research as they will drive the objectives on the specificity on what leads to a given state of juveniles engaging in these activities.
Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. L. (2014). Trends in children’s exposure to violence, 2003 to 2011. JAMA pediatrics , 168 (6), 540-546. Retrieved from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/1863909
This study was aimed at finding the trends in the children exposure to crime, violence, and abuse from the year 2003 to the year 2011. Within this period, there were no significant increases in the incidents of crime from the juveniles. Importantly, there was no increase but rather a decline in the cases of property crime and destruction of property. There were some remarkable statistical data between the period of 2008 and 2011. Within this time, there were no incidences of increase in the 50 cases examined. Specifically, there were about 11 cases of decline. Generally, from the study, it could be concluded that there is a decline in the incidences of crime among the young population within the period of the study
Hockenberry, S., & Puzzanchera, C. (2015). Juvenile court statistics 2013.Retrieved from: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/njcda/pdf/jcs2013.pdf?ed2f26df2d9c416fbddddd2330a778c6=dlgqayyay-dhzlaawz
The authors have achieved the objective of the study in giving the statistical records on the different types of crimes committed by juveniles as per the court records and data. This is a reputable source as it has given the statistics from one of the most convenient sources. Hockenberry and Puzzanchera make a great point in terms of the recordings on the trend of specific crimes committed by juveniles. According to their statistics, it is clear that from the year 2004 to 2013, there has been an increase in robbery cases. On the same note, it is recorded that contrary to 2004, there is a 2% increase in the rate of robbery. Importantly, the cases of juvenile related crimes such as aggravated assault, rape, and burglary have decreased by 2% from 2012 to 2013.
Li, S. D. (2014). Familial religiosity, family processes, and juvenile delinquency in a national sample of early adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence , 34 (4), 436-462.
Religion has always been seen as a factor that creates an environment where juveniles can inculcate good practices and relations with society. However, the study carried out by Li gives a negative linkage between the familial religion and juvenile delinquency. The findings for this study were informed by the waves of the longitudinal survey in which there was a discovery made on the relationship between delinquency and specific elements of the familial relationship. This difference is created by factors such as parental attachment, parental practices, and activities and importantly familial religiosity. These findings are important for the research as they will give a direction as to what path should be followed in finding the reasons for the existence of this state of affairs. Moreover, it will further the study into the relationship between religion and juvenile delinquency, something which has not been given much consideration.
Margari, F., Craig, F., Margari, L., Matera, E., Lamanna, A. L., Lecce, P. A., ... & Carabellese, F. (2015). Psychopathology, symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and risk factors in juvenile offenders. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment , 11 , 343.
Authors, in this case, had an objective of investigating the environmental and mental disorders in connection to the cases of specific crimes committed by the adolescents. The methodology of data collection was both quantitative and qualitative in that there was data collection from the youths according to their self-report scales. Findings showed that 52% of juvenile offenders have education achievement problems. Approximately 34% recorded the occurrence of psychopathic disorders in their family history. As a conclusion, the study recommends a need to take into consideration the specific treatment of specific criminal records.
Piquero, A. R., Schubert, C. A., & Brame, R. (2014). Comparing official and self-report records of offending across gender and race/ethnicity in a longitudinal study of serious youthful offenders. Journal of research in crime and delinquency , 51 (4), 526-556.
This study was aimed at finding the relations between self-reports and official reports as pertains to frequency and prevalence of delinquency and crime among adolescents. Looking at the theoretical perspectives, it is reported from the study that there are few studies which have been linked with these variables. The study used the data from different sources including pathways in which about 1354 youthful offenders were compared. The findings have it that there is a weak link between self-reports and official report arrests with race or ethnicity. However, there are strong links between these reports and gender violence prevalence and frequency.
Rojas-Gaona, C. E., Hong, J. S., & Peguero, A. A. (2016). The significance of race/ethnicity in adolescent violence: A decade of review, 2005–2015. Journal of criminal justice , 46 , 137-147.
This study was aimed at finding out the interrelationships between ethnicity and race on juvenile delinquency. This followed the idea that there is a growing demographic landscape in the United States where the proportion of minorities is likely to be equal to those who are not marginalized. The study reviewed the criminal and violent activities committed by different races between the year 2005 and 2015. The methodology involved reviewing different databases such as the criminal justice abstracts and google scholar searches. There are reported and discussed existing complexities and factors which have contributed to this state therein. It is realized that there are policy implications linked to this state of affairs. According to the authors, these studies are of more relevance in informing the needed policy guidelines which can be applied in combating the adolescent violence in regard to race and ethnicity.
Schroeder, R. D., & Mowen, T. J. (2014). Parenting style transitions and delinquency. Youth & Society , 46 (2), 228-254.
The authors, in this case, have come to terms with the fact that there is minimal research in connection with parenting and juvenile delinquency. However, from their study, there are elements which link these two variables. According to the results from the longitudinal survey of youths, it is learned that parental involvement and mode cut across the entire social system. Still, with this, there are some specific parenting behaviors which are seen to be inclined to the challenge of delinquency. Notably, the shifts in parenting associated with maternal attachment are seen as contributing factors to juvenile delinquency. Though this is seen as a partial effect on the scenario. This material will provide the needed insight into the discussion of the whole issue of juvenile delinquency. It becomes necessary that the discussion looks at parameters like parenting methods as they have either positive or negative influences on the development of juveniles.
Taheri, S. A., & Welsh, B. C. (2016). After-school programs for delinquency prevention: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Youth violence and juvenile justice , 14 (3), 272-290.
According to the authors, there are no significant relations between delinquency and after-school programs for the prevention of the crime. From the study, there were about 17 autonomous samples taken which were verified and found to have met the criteria. According to the moderator, there is no evidence of a link between these programs and the state of delinquency among juveniles. This article is of importance for the study as it is likely to debunk the myths associated with the strategies geared toward seeing that there are control mechanisms for the situation. Importantly, it will help the study in finding the best ways and the reasons for the existence of this scenario whereby juveniles are involved in criminal activities. However, the study gives the opportunity for the interest in trustworthiness as an area which can be exploited.
