Violence In Youth Culture Essay Example for Free

Violence In Youth Culture Essay The youth is the future of any nation. Every young person has the potential to lead towards the detriment of himself and others as well as towards the beneficial aspects. The life of violence is expectedly, a personal choice; but this choice oftentimes is impacted by social structure and individuality. For some who have lived the life of violence all their lives, option is not within their fate, so to speak. It is their byword most of the time that â€Å"life has few if not, no choices at all† for people like them. Crime, especially committed by the youth, comprises a major, escalating portion of the nation’s criminal problem. Whats more, majority of adult offenders in the country’s jails grew up from child and adolescent life of criminal behavior. In addition, many of the adults in prison today began their criminal careers as youths and teenagers. . Consequently, whatever approaches the government seeks to implement in order to curb juvenile delinquency must touch every segment of society that has bearing, in any way, upon children (Source:www. cato. org/testimony/ct-wc67. html). A lot of studies on demographical statistics have been made to figure out the problem of juvenile delinquency. As a result of these studies, awareness is achieved as to what to do or how to deal with this rising problem of youth in general. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) formed a Study Group on very young offenders to look at the special case of children from ages 13 down and examine the incidence and the frequency of crimes committed by this particular age group. According to their study, the number is rising of children committing crimes based on the record of the juvenile justice system; i. e. according to court caseloads. Considering their age (at a very young age of 13 – below), one would automatically understand the odds of these children committing more crimes as they pass through adolescence into adulthood) (Source: Organization of African Unity and UNICEF, â€Å"Africa’s children, Africa’s future†, a background sectoral paper prepared for the OAU International Conference on Assistance to African Children, Dakar, 25-27 November 1992, Accessed:www. cato. org/testimony/ct-wc67. html, Dec. 3, 2006). A. Demographics Latest statistics show, as U. S. Department of Justice’s has done in their survey, youth offenders with age ranging from 7 to 12 years, are becoming more and more involved with the juvenile justice system. Meaning, â€Å"criminals† within this age group are increasing. One in ten juvenile arrests involves kids under thirteen years old. Offenses range from arson, rape, homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, to not so serious but persistent disruptive behavior such as truancy and incorrigibility. These children â€Å"have a two to threefold greater risk of becoming serious, violent, and chronic offenders† (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). Of course, if these children are not given enough attention and not dealt with effectively, by the authorities (including, first of all, their parents), the likelihood is that they will be spending their future years, in a more prone condition, to commit the same crime/s repeatedly (given the opportunity), as they had already committed the same in the past. They will be â€Å"in it† for the long haul. When this happens, the result will not be a good prospect for the citizenry of the nation, and even more for the parents. Large funds will be siphoned from educational system, child welfare system, the justice system, mental health agencies, just to alleviate this worsening problem. Added to this dismal prospect, is the continuing threat to public safety and property (Loeber and Farrington, 2001). B. Age and Crimes Committed Survey tells us that among U. S. penitentiaries, it’s very common to see very young children behind the bars (Snyder, 2001). The FBI has its own collected data under its branch Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The data shows that, all in all, law enforcement agencies in 1997 have recorded arrests of children less than thirteen years of age, and they are approximated at about 253,000 arrests (Snyder and Sickmund, 1999). And of these arrests, ten percent are violations such as running away from home, curfew violations, and drunkenness violations. The FBI data also shows that nine percent of these overall arrests (253,000) of delinquent children are youths younger than thirteen. Notwithstanding this overall projection, there is good news: Intervention and prevention programs are being made to curb this increasing problem on child delinquency. These programs are seen to produce positive results as they are addressing the factors that constitute this whole concern (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). In 1998, OJJDP, in attempt to better comprehend the studies made thus far, convened the Study Group on Very Young Offenders. Their aim was to analyze the existing data so as to be able to address the remaining key issues left untouched in available publications that time. The Study Group members together with some experts on juvenile delinquency and psychopathology (most of them authors) found out that â€Å"some young children engage in very serious antisocial behavior† show by their behavior that they had early delinquency problems. They were able to identify several factors that are, based on their observations, contributing parts to the early onset of the child’s offending (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). The convening of these experts resulted in the completion of The Child Delinquency Bulletin Series in 2001 with grant number 95-JD-FX-0018 which was published subsequently by Sage Publications under the title Child Delinquents: Development Intervention and Service Needs (edited by Rolf Loeber and David P. Farrington). Now, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention encourages all concern – the parents, teachers, and the juvenile justice community to avail and use the information compiled in this book to deal with the needs of youth offenders and proceed to think of ways on how to be more strategic and effective as they implement their steps (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). C. Background (home, childhood, and family) Sociologists, in an attempt to explain and point out the reasons behind delinquency, have concluded that there are connections between specific youth behaviors with the home environment, family background, the neighborhood, associations, and many other aspects that together, or separately affect the formative years of young people’s social environment. Delinquent children usually come from a background of difficult circumstances. Some of them were virtually forced under certain circumstances that leave them no other options but commit certain crimes. Parental alcoholism, poverty, breakdown of family, abusive conditions in the home, death of parents during armed conflicts or drug overdose, and the HIV/AIDS scourge, and etc. are some of the various reasons that can leave children virtually orphaned. One or both parents may be physically present, but because of irresponsibility on their part (if even one of them is addicted to drugs or alcoholic), a child may grow developing certain ways and attitudes that are directly/indirectly caused by the parent/s addiction or drug-related behavior. In this case, true delinquency lies on the parents; and the children are, in a way, orphaned or unaccompanied, and without any means of subsistence which, in the first place, the parents’ fundamental responsibility to provide. Few children, if there are any, survive these disastrous environment. They are first in the line of those who are at greatest risk of falling into juvenile delinquency. According to UNICEF, between 1992 to 2000, children in especially dire conditions of life have increased in number from 80 million (1992) to 150 million (2000) (Source: Organization of African Unity and UNICEF, â€Å"Africa’s children, Africa’s future†, a background sectoral paper prepared for the OAU International Conference on Assistance to African Children, Dakar, 25-27 November 1992, Accessed:www. cato. org/testimony/ct-wc67. html, Dec. 3, 2006). There are behaviors which can be said as normal part of growing up years of children in general. Some even stretched it too far as to say that antisocial behavior may be normal at some stage between childhood and adolescence. It is either just a part of growing up path in which everyone must pass, or if not given proper guidance, antisocial attitudes may become part of a long-term pattern of criminal activity(United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency or The Riyadh Guidelines).. â€Å"Youthful behavior or conduct that does not conform to overall social norms and values is often part of the maturation and growth process and tends to disappear spontaneously in most individuals with the transition to adulthood† says The Riyadh Guidelines. It is quite common to young people, especially in teenage or adolescent years, to have committed or commit some kind of petty offence at some point. But this pattern should not continue into adulthood turning someone into a full pledged criminal (United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency or The Riyadh Guidelines). Guidance and oversight by parents or responsible adults are very important during crucial years of a child. This stage is between childhood to adolescence. Children must be closely monitored and mentored and be guided/assisted between transitional periods. While it is true that delinquency is part and is a common characteristic of immaturity, it is very important to bear in mind that during this period of growth, juveniles (if left alone and unguided) often tend to create stable criminal groups. With this more permanent association, an atmosphere of stability and belongingness begin to impress into young people’s subconscious until it becomes a virtual reality where life for them comes alive (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). Without noticing it as it is typical of any youth to be lacking in prudence, with newly embraced group, a corresponding subculture starts to assimilate them, and before long, they start to engage in activities of adult criminal groups. It is usually after being engaged in criminal activities for an extended period of time with its accompanying consequences (such as ending up in prison or rehabilitation institutions for drug addicts) that delinquents realize they are into a very dangerous zone. They have, in effect, chosen delinquent careers (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). According to available Statistical data in many countries, delinquency is, by and large, a group trend. A large portion of all juvenile violations (between two-thirds and three-quarters) are perpetrated by youths who are members of certain gangs. â€Å"Even those juveniles who commit offences alone are likely to be associated with groups. According to data from the Russian Federation, the rate of criminal activity among juveniles in groups is about three to four times higher than that of adult offenders† † (Venkatesh, 1997). If the subcultural aspect of juvenile group activities is only given the attention it deserves, it will be better understood. The culture being advocated by different juvenile groups is a heterogeneous mix. It is a mixture of predominant values of a certain social class, which are (unfortunately) spread mainly by the entertainment industry unconsciously. It can be values or lifestyle systems which are particularly indigenous to a neighborhood or even to a smaller group. â€Å"Subcultures can be defined as particular lifestyle systems that are developed in groups and are in structurally subordinate positions as a result of pressure exerted by the predominant systems. Subcultures reflect individual and group attempts to solve structural contradictions† † (Venkatesh, 1997). Because juvenile groups exist in a locality, this fact must be taken into consideration. A community is defined by its geographic location, â€Å"by the similarities of social characteristics of its residents, such as membership in a social class or ethnic group† (Venkatesh, 1997). Children who are well taken care of by their parents and are thus adequately supervised are at less odds to be involved in criminal activities. Studies have proven that. Dysfunctional family, on the other hand, which is commonly characterized by regular conflicts, parental negligence, poor communication because of absorption to outside activities by parents, are always assumed to be the breeding ground for delinquents. Children in disadvantaged family settings are usually insecure, have a low view of self, and consequently have fewer opportunities for legitimate employment. They face a higher risk of social exclusion† (Venkatesh, 1997). Because of the breakdown of family institution, the ever increasing rate of single parenting and the many factors that contribute to this disintegration, the family as a unit has been redefined and as a result children are reaping the effects((OJJDP, Mar. 2003). An important assumption here is that, boys coming from the low-income families search for models of masculinity from these gangs. These forms, in a lot of instances, serve as their surrogate family, filling in the void for leadership roles which are supposed to be filled in by their real fathers. Instead of finding what they are looking for in a family, through those substitute groups, what they get is more than what they bargained for: â€Å"cruelty, becoming bully themselves, excitability and anxiety† (OJJDP, Mar. 2003) Conclusion Because family is the true breeding ground for achievement and true success, great importance is now being given for the well-being of this important unit of the community. Children’s achievements and/or performance in school are directly influenced by their parents more than the school itself. The parents’ moral, emotional, and financial capacity are basic for children’s early training: e. g. the acquisition of educational resources depends so much on the parents’ determination to obtain them for the enhancement of their children’s education (Wiig, 2001) . Here now is the immense disparity: young people aged 18 and below, who come from the socio-economically-deprived level most of the time feel excluded because of their disadvantages. Thus, they resort to looking for ways to help this area where they see themselves deprived. Gangs, to them, are easy solutions. Delinquents who are already part of this subcultural group are eager to recruit them. Opportunities are equal to everyone (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). Unlike in school and their family, these have no strict rules to be followed except loyalty to the group. It gives young people esteem when they somehow feel they are the â€Å"rule† in themselves. This is the lure of gangs. It gives the promise of fulfillment to would be delinquents. Popularity, access to the powerful figures on the streets, freedom to express one’s self, as well as easy flow of money (if the gang is also involved in some illegal activities such as drug dealings, which is common in most gangs) are seemingly within grasp of anybody who just have the guts to dare (OJJDP, Mar. 2003). Reference: Griffin, Torbert, and Szymanski, 1998. See J. Hearn, The Violences of Men: How Men Talk about and How Agencies Respond to Men’s Violence to Women (London, Sage, 1998); L. A. Goodman and others, â€Å"Male violence against women†, American Psychologist, vol. 48, No. 10 (1993), pp. 1,054-1,058; and M. P. Koss and others, No Safe Haven: Male Violence Against Women at Home, at Work and in the Community (Washington, American Psychological Association, 1994). Loeber, R. , and Farrington, D. P. , eds. 2001. Child Delinquents: Development, Intervention, and Service Needs. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. OJJDP, Mar. 2003. (The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, and the Office for Victims of Crime.) http://:www. cato. org/testimony/ct- wc67. html.. (Accessed Dec. 2006)J. Flores, Administrator. Snyder, H. N. , and Sickmund, M. 1999. Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 1999 National Report. Report. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency prevention. Snyder, H. N. 2001. Epidemiology of official offending. In Child Delinquents: Development, Intervention, and Service Needs, edited by R. Loeber and D. P. Farrington. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. , pp. 25–46. United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency   or The Riyadh Guidelines http://:www.cato.org/testimony/ct-wc67.html.. (Accessed November 2007)J.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Flores, Administrator.