Using Rational Choice Theory to Analyse Juvenile Delinquency

Introduction 

Farrington (2017), describes juvenile delinquency as the habitual committing of offenses or criminal acts by a young individual, particularly one who is under the age that ordinary criminal cases are possible. In most cases, juveniles cannot be tried as adults as such the juvenile justice system was set in place to handle youth or juveniles who are convicted of criminal acts. The Juvenile justice system typically intervenes in delinquent behavior trough correctional involvement, police and courts, with the sole goal of rehabilitating the youth who commit offenses (Bartollas, Schmalleger & Turner, 2017). 

Four Kids, Four Crimes 

Shawn ferociously attacked his own father and almost killed him after repeatedly stabbing him to death. When tried, he pleaded guilty to the crime of attempted homicide in a juvenile court so as to evade being tried as a grownup. The verdict from this court was seen to be lenient and this begs the question, does the justice system treat white delinquents differently from delinquents from other races? 

Marquese was regarded as a regular offender in the juvenile system with seven theft connected offenses on his record. His prosecutor was of the opinion that the juvenile system couldn’t do any more for him and wanted him to be tried as an adult. His attorney, however, was of the opinion that the juvenile system had failed and as such ought to offer him one more chance. 

Jose engaged in a fight that was allegedly gang-related where one individual was injured and another killed. He was tried as an adult but served in a Juvenile Hall and Jose was able to turn his life around and he served as an example of how people can turn their life around even persons charged with violent crime. 

Manny engaged in an attack on a neighborhood family. One of the victims in that family was pregnant. Owing to the ruthlessness of the assault, Manny was tried as an adult and when tried pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault. Manny was later sentenced to nine years in a state prison. 

According to Frontline (2014), there exist chief disparities of involvement of minority youth when contrasted against their white counterparts. In recent time, the American Public has supported a get-tough strategy to handle crime. In the 90s almost all states passed stricter legislation on juvenile delinquency which made it easier for juveniles to be tried as adults. Notwithstanding, what actions warrant a juvenile to be tried as an adult. 

I disagree with the judgment of the Shawn case. Shawn violently assaulted his father with a knife. He was tried for attempted murder but was only tried as a juvenile despite the severity and the level of brutality of his case. I believe that Shawn should have been tried as an adult owing to the severity of his assault on his own father. I agree with the verdict rendered in Manny’s case. Manny assaulted a neighborhood family and one of the family members was a pregnant woman. Owing to the severity of the attack, Manny was tried as an adult and sentenced to 9 years in prison. On this ground, I believe that Shawn too should have been tried as an adult. According to Frontline (2014), recent surveys indicate racial biases in the justice system because there exist racial disparities as Hispanic and Black adolescents are typically arrested more frequently and often serve lengthier verdicts in obstructive facilities when likened to their white equals. 

I believe that Marquese should be given one more shot at redemption and as such should not be tried as an adult. Marquese has been arrested on several occasions and tried on theft-related charges. The Juvenile prosecutor claims that their nothing more the Juvenile system could do for him and as such he ought to be tried as an adult. The defense, however, believed that the system had failed him and as such he ought to be given one more chance. According to Frontline (2014), defense attorneys and lawyers alike defend the existence of the juvenile justice system and believe that no child should be regarded as a lost cause. I agree with the verdict in the Jose Case. Jose was tried for engaging in gang-related violence that resulted in the death of one person and the injury of another. Despite the fact that he was tried as an adult he served in a Juvenile hall and was rehabilitated and turned his life around. This is indicative of the effectiveness of the system and no child should be regarded as a lost cause. 

The Crucifixion Murder 

In 1997, Billy (7 years old) and Bobby (10 years old) who killed baby Noah Alba in a dingy unfinished basement which had been used as a club house by neighborhood children. This presented a dilemma because it wasn’t clear whether these children had malicious intentions or whether this occurrence was simply an accident. With some local newspapers labeling the children as “monsters”. What was particularly surprising from this was the thought of children killing children. It wasn’t logical to charge a 10-year-old and 7 years old with murder. Bobby was placed in the juvenile detention for 2 months after which all the murder charges were dropped against the two juvenile brothers and they opted for therapy instead (Frontline, 2014). 

In my opinion, I believe that the verdict rendered in this case was the best possible judgment that would have been rendered. According to Farrington (2017), the juvenile justice system was established within the country with the sole objective of diverting youthful offenders for the destructive punishment of criminal courts and also fostering rehabilitation grounded on the individual juvenile’s wants. In this case, therapy was the best possible solution to this issue because a seven and ten-year-old is too young to be tried for criminal proceedings. It cannot be stated that the two had pre-planned the action of killing of Little Noah Alba or whether there was any motivation to commit this heinous act. While the death of Little Noah Alba was painful, especially under such conditions, opening criminal charges against Bobby and Billy in itself would have been wrong. As such I believe that the action to place Bobby and Billy under therapy was the best possible scenario under this scenario. This would help them get over the trauma of Noah’s death and also help in rehabilitating them and reintroducing them back into the society. 

Rational Choice Theory 

In the context of criminology, the rational choice theory states that humans are reasoning being who typically weigh means to an end and end up making choices they deem to be rational (Bartollas, Schmalleger & Turner, 2017). This implies that criminals usually weigh up their options before making up their mind about committing a crime or felon. 

In the first Shawn case, the rational choice can be proved because he was a teenager who continuously assaulted his father with a knife. Owing to the severity of the crime, Shawn should have been tried as an adult. In the second case involving Marquese, it is possible to establish rational choice. Marquese had been trailed in several occasion on theft-related charges but is attorney believes that the juvenile system should offer him one chance for redemption and should not give up on him. In the case of Jose, it is possible to establish rational choice because he voluntarily engaged in gang fight which led to the death of one person and injured another. As such he was tried as an adult but serve in a Juvenile Hall. Jose was, however, able to turn his life around and this serves an indication of the effectiveness of the Juvenile justice system. Another case involved Manny. It is possible to establish rational choice owing to the fact that they planned an assault on a neighborhood family. Owing to the severity of his action, Manny was tried as an adult and convicted to nine years in a state penitentiary. 

In the final case involving Billy (7 years old) and Bobby (10 years old) were two brothers killed Noah Alba in 1997, it is not possible to prove rational choice because of they're young it is not possible to point out the exact motive or reason for killing the little Noah. In this circumstance I believe it was not possible to take the two brothers to trial and therapy was the best course of action for Billy and Bobby. 

Reference 

Bartollas, C., Schmalleger, F., & Turner, M. G. (2017).  Juvenile delinquency . Pearson. 

Farrington, D. P. (2017). A general age-graded theory of crime: Lessons learned and the future of life-course criminology. In  Integrated developmental and life-course theories of offending  (pp. 175-192). Routledge. 

Pbs.org. (2014). Four Kids, Four Crimes | Juvenile Justice | FRONTLINE | PBS. [online] Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/four/ [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]. 

Pbs.org. (2014). From Both Sides Of The Bench | Juvenile Justice | FRONTLINE | PBS. [online] Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/bench/ [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018]. 

Pbs.org. (2014). Readings | Little Criminals | FRONTLINE | PBS. [online] Available at: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/little/readings/crucifixion.html [Accessed 19 Apr. 2018].