CRIJ 1313

CRIJ 1313 – Juvenile Justice

Lesson 2 Writing Assignment:

What Causes Juvenile Delinquency? Structure, Socialization, or Individual Traits?

Total Points: 25

Purpose of This Assignment

In Lesson 2, we move from the history of juvenile justice to the central question of criminology:

· Why do juveniles commit delinquent acts?

Theories of delinquency fall into major categories:

· Biosocial and psychological explanations

· Social structure theories

· Social process theories

· Life course theories

· Social reaction theories

Each offers a different explanation: some focus on internal traits, others on environmental conditions, and others on societal reactions.

This assignment requires you to take a clear position and defend it using theory and research.

Central Question;

· Which category of theory provides the most convincing explanation for juvenile delinquency - individual-based theories or social-based theories - and why?

You may argue that:

· One category is superior, or

· An integrated approach provides the strongest explanation.

However, your position must be clearly supported with scholarly evidence.

Assignment Requirements

Write a minimum 750-word analytical paper that includes:

1. Clear, Argumentative Thesis

Your introduction must clearly state which theoretical perspective (or combination of perspectives) best explains juvenile delinquency and why.

Your paper must be analytical - not a summary of theories.

2. Explanation of Competing Theories

Provide a concise but accurate overview of:

Individual-Based Theories

· Biosocial perspectives

· Psychological theories

· Self-control theory

· Assumptions about responsibility, temperament, cognition, and impulsivity

Social-Based Theories

· Social disorganization

· Strain theory (Merton and Agnew)

· Differential association and learning theory

· Social bonding/control theory

· Labeling or conflict theory

Demonstrate a clear understanding of how these perspectives differ in their assumptions about the causes of delinquency.

3. Critical Comparison

Analyze how the competing perspectives explain:

· Onset of delinquency

· Persistence and escalation

· Desistance and turning points

Consider:

· Are juveniles shaped more by environment or internal traits?

· Do peer groups matter more than personality?

· Does poverty create crime, or does weak bonding?

· Does labeling reinforce delinquency?

You must move beyond description and defend why your selected perspective provides a stronger explanation.

4. Policy and Practice Implications

Explain how your chosen theoretical framework would influence:

· Prevention strategies

· Early intervention programs

· School-based initiatives

· Sentencing philosophy

· Rehabilitation efforts

Demonstrate how theory shapes real-world decisions in juvenile justice.

5. Conclusion

Defend your final position clearly:

· Is delinquency primarily structural?

· Primarily socialized?

· Primarily psychological?

· Or best explained through integrated theory?

Explain why your answer matters for juvenile justice policy.

Formatting Requirements (APA 7th Edition)

· Minimum 750 words

· 12-point Times New Roman

· Double-spaced

· Title page

· Proper in-text citations

· Reference page

· Minimum 3 scholarly references

· Textbook counts as one

· At least two additional credible academic or government sources required

Failure to follow APA format will result in point deductions under the rubric.