Prevention of Child in Conflict with the Law

Juvenile crime is a significant problem in our society, but what is causing it? There are a number of common issues among juvenile offenders that seem to contribute to the overall statistics. Children today are exposed to extreme media, broken families, poverty, and other problems earlier and more often than their parents were.

Before the nineteenth century, children were generally considered to be young adults, and they were expected to behave accordingly. Children over the age of seven years who were accused of crimes were prosecuted in adult court. If convicted they could be confined in an adult prison. By the nineteenth century, most states had created separate work farms and reform schools for convicted children, but some states still sent children to adult prisons. Juveniles were not always rehabilitated in prison. After interacting with adult criminals, they often emerged from prison with increased criminal knowledge and an increased resolve to commit crimes.

Children often test limits and boundaries set by their parents and other authority figures. Among adolescents, some rebelliousness and experimentation is common. However, a few children consistently participate in problematic behaviors that negatively affect their family, academic, social and personal functioning. This child presents great concerns to parents and the community at large. The prevention of delinquency requires identifying at-risk individuals and their environments before delinquent activity and behavior occur, and then removing such factors or strengthening resistance to the risk factors already present. The most logical starting place for prevention efforts is the family.

Young offender, also called a juvenile delinquent, is a minor who has committed a crime. This name is given to those who have committed both misdemeanors and felonies. The legal age of adulthood may vary based on country or area, but it is generally between 15 and 18 years of age. Young offenders who have committed a crime are often tried differently than adults who may have committed the same crime. The punishment for a young offender will depend on the crime committed. For misdemeanor offenses, young offenders are often given a much lighter sentence than an adult would receive, especially for a first offense. In more severe cases, he or she may be sent to a juvenile corrections facility. This is an institution which serves as a rehabilitation center for youths who have been convicted of a serious crime. While similar to a prison, the kids there often focus more on determining the root cause of problems rather than doing "hard time." In some very serious cases, the young offender may be tried as an adult. This is most common if the youth is approaching legal age for adulthood and has committed a felony crime such as murder. A hearing is generally held before the actual trial to determine if the young offender should be tried as an adult. Factors which may play a part in the decision include the person's age, competence level, and whether the crime was premeditated.

The overall goal of the legal system when dealing with a young offender is to determine why he committed the crime and how to prevent it from happening again. Corrections facilities may aim to offer counseling or other services to help the youth discover the causes for his behavior. In some cases, the young offender will be placed on house arrest, probation, given community service obligations, and/or be required to attend court mandated counseling sessions.

With all of the individual, family, community, and societal costs of juvenile