Final examination
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CRJ2353N1DelinquentBehaviorJasonDevauxSU21-852021-1236PM2.zipChapter 10.pptx
Chapter 10
Schools and Delinquency
American Schools
In 1890 only 7% of children in the US attended school. Today that number is 90%
Globally, school has become the primary determining factor of social and economic factors
Schools, especially for children after the age of 12, are the primary social interaction environment
The medium income for a child who drops out of school in the US (K-12) - $23,000 That is almost 50% less than a high school graduate, and 75% less than a college graduate.
More on schools
The US high school graduation rate in 2012 was 75% Despite increases in funding, the rate has only risen 5% in the past 20 years.
While the US is the wealthiest nation in the world, we rank 24th in per capita spending on students.
Overall, US students scored 23rd in the world in median skills testing
While overall scores for US students have improved in the past ten years, so has the rest of the world! We still lag behind most industrialized nations in educational scores and spending.
Demographics
Students scoring Proficient at 4th Grade
Caucasian – 42%
Hispanic – 20%
Black – 15%
At the 8th Grade –
Caucasian – 33%
Hispanic – 15%
Black – 11%
Drop Out Rates
Nationwide – 8.5%
Caucasian – 4.9%
Black – 9.4%
Hispanic – 18.8%
Asian – 4.4%
Indian – 17.5%
Mixed Racial – 4.2%
Why drop out?
Wile jobs and expulsion are certainly factors in children dropping out of school, there are other factors to consider:
Education through graduation is not compulsory in may states (Colorado it is until 16 years of age)
Nearly 90% of all dropouts come from single parent homes
Nearly 80% of all dropouts come from families living near the poverty line
The overall effect
Why do we care about high school drop outs? Some interesting factors:
A high school dropout will cost society, on average, $243,000 to $388,000 in welfare and social program benefits
A high school dropout who is arrested before their 21st birthday, will cost society $1.3 million to $1.5 million in legal cost attributed to the criminal justice system.
School failure and delinquency
Children who underachieve in school are considered to be at greatest risk for delinquency. There are three theories for how poor performance at school is related to greater rates of delinquency:
School failure is a direct cause of delinquency, as poor students associate with other failing individuals in anti-social groups
School failure leads to social and psychological problems, which in turn lead to anti-social behavior
School failure is not a cause of delinquency, but rather shares the same underlying causes of delinquency.
Delinquency and education
Regardless of the causes, several correlations have been made between school failure and delinquency:
Personal and psychological problems in the home follow the child to the classroom, and are made worse
Children in lower social classes are traditionally the poorest performers in school
While tracking student may help those with high skill sets, it creates labels for those who are remedial
Students who feel alienated from the social structure of school, are most likely to develop delinquent tendencies.
Violence in the schools
While there has been much made in the media about school violence, the statistics tell a different story:
The overall threat of violence against teachers is very low. Less than 3% of all teachers will be attacked in their entire CAREER, while approximately 7% will receive a threat during their career.
More statistics
As illustrated in the text, actual criminal acts performed on school grounds have decreased dramatically over the past twenty years:
Overall crime rates for students away from school is nearly identical to the number of acts on school grounds
The overall rates of violent crimes have dropped by nearly 70%
Violent crime affects less than 1% of all students at school , and less than 3% of all students will be a victim of any crime at school (including thefts)
The real problems
Bullying – Bullying, by it’s definition, is a form of harassment. It can include teasing, threats of violence, or repeated negative denouncement. Nearly 64% of all students report being the victim of bullying in a school year, and nearly 75% report being victims of cyber-bullying.
School shootings – While close to 10% of all students have reported bringing a weapon of some type to school, the overall number of firearms attacks are relatively rare. Where a weapon is discharged or used at a school the overwhelming percentage of attacks are NOT mass shootings.
Where violence occurs
Regardless of it’s causes, school place violence does follow certain characteristics:
Large schools breed violence – 89% of schools with enrollment over 2,000 students reported crimes of violence, while only 38% of smaller schools did (in a given year)
Schools in urban areas reported nearly four times as much crime as rural ones
Schools with poor aesthetics ( pollution, graffiti, need of repair) reported crime at nearly three times the national rate.
More on violence
Schools in neighborhoods that are socially disorganized also experience a higher proportion of crime.
Most perpetrators of school violence were once victim themselves
Students that attack other students on school grounds with a weapon, almost always transmit their intentions to other students before the attacks.
Reducing school violence
The overall reduction in school violence has been attributed to many initiatives:
Creating school security
Zero Tolerance policy on certain behaviors
Employing law enforcement at schools (SRO’s)
Embracing the Broken Windows Theory in regards to facilities
Merging social outreach programs with schools to reach troubled youth
Privacy Based Initiatives
Schools have also sought to influence the behavior of children through initiative prevention programs. These programs generally are divided into the following sections:
Cognitive Awareness and Education
Affective Self-image
Behavior response to peer-pressure
Environmental searches
Therapy through school counselors
Legal Rights in the schools
While this is a social theory class, there are some interesting cases in regards to student liberties:
Safford v. Redding – Strip searches of students for contraband can be legal, if circumstances require it. (they did not in this case)
Board of Education v. Earls – Any student can be subjected to drug testing and discipline, at any time on school property
More rights
Tinker v. Des Moines - Both active and passive speech may be regulated on a school campus, if such speech interferes with the operation of the school.
Off-campus speech may be prohibited if it affects the ability of other students to learn
Cyber speech made off-campus may be regulated by a school, if it affects the ability of the school to function and other students to learn.
Last issues
School Prayer – While a school cannot lead prayers at mandatory functions or require prayer, it can set aside moments of silence and reflection for students.
Using the term “God” is not an endorsement of a specific religion (whether in a pledge or otherwise)
Corporal punishment by teachers or administrators IS legal under the US Constitution, so long as the school has made this policy known to parents. This is true even if the parent objects to corporal punishment. There is concern though, that mentally challenged students are disproportionately subjected to physical punishment.
Chapter 11 Lecture.pptx
Chapter 11
Drug Usage and Delinquency
Drug Abuse
What this class will NOT cover:
Your personal opinion on adult substance abuse and controlled substance usage
The technical definition of illicit drugs, alcohol and stimulants (the book summarizes these on pages 404-408.
The effects of any given drug on youth (the effects are the same from adults to children)
The obvious need for treatment for abusers. We will focus instead on delinquency and prevention.
Basic facts about usage
Illegal drug usage (non-marijuana) among youths peaked in 1980 (58% of youth ages 12-18 reported usage in a calendar year)
Illicit drug usage hit it’s lowest point in 1993 (18% of youth 12-18 reporting usage)
Between 1993 and 2001, usage rates doubled to 36%
Between 2001 and 2012, rates have remained relatively the same. There was a brief decrease in usage from 2001-2009, and a marked increase in the past four years.
Conclusion: Drug usage goes up when there is a Democrat in the White House…. LOL Just Kidding… sort of.
Yearly Usage Reports for 12-18 year olds (2003-2013)
Substance
Abuse Rate (10 yr rate)
Alcohol
Cigarettes
Class 1 Narcotics
Marijuana
Prescription Drugs
42% (Down 22%)
19% (Down 38%)
13% (Unchanged)
8% (Up 22%)
8% (Up 240%)
More on Statistics
7% of youth report heavy drinking
Heavy drinking is defined as 5 or more alcoholic beverages consumed on five or more day in a 30 day period.
9% of youth report binge drinking
Binge drinking is defined as 5 or more alcoholic beverages consumed on one to four days in a 20 day period.
Girls are more likely to abuse illegal prescription medication, while boys are more likely to abuse narcotics and marijuana.
Drug Abuse and Delinquency
82% of all juveniles who commit a major crime report alcohol use in the past 30 days.
34% of all juveniles suspended from school report alcohol use in the past 30 days
92% of all juveniles who commit a major crime report marijuana use in the past 30 days
51% of all juveniles who are suspended from school report marijuana use in the past 30 days
48% of all juveniles who have been arrested for a crime, have sold drugs at least once in their life.
While not a correlation to adult usage, marijuana usage among juveniles is the single greatest predictor of delinquent behavior.
Effect of Usage
Does usage cause delinquency? As with gang affiliation, there are three theories:
Drug and Alcohol usage cause delinquency
Delinquency leads to drug and alcohol abuse
Drug / Alcohol abuse and delinquency are caused by the same underlying factors and social/psychological problems.
Abuse Pathways
While there are no definitive guidelines to predict juvenile substance abuse, there are some concepts that have universal acceptance:
Gateway substances such as alcohol and marijuana lead to greater potential of abuse
Juveniles who deal in illegal substances generally become victims of their own business
Dealing in drugs as a juvenile is generally not profitable, when compared to other venues. The access to substances for personal use is more likely the lure, than pure profit.
Realities of Crime
May juveniles are led to believe that dealing in narcotics is lucrative. Multiple DEA and University studies into actual profit from dealing and gang banging are startling:
Average actual hourly income of a juvenile street dealer: Year 1 - $2.50 / Year 4 - $7.10
Average actual hourly income of a member of a major gang: Year 1 - $5.90 / Year 4 - $11.10
Average actual hourly income of a Gang/Set leader: Year 1 - $32.50 / Year 4 - $97.20
Theories on Initial Usage
Everyone agrees that a juvenile that is addicted to a substance is at high risk for delinquency. The more interesting question is “WHY” does a child abuse a substance in the first place? There are SEVEN competing theories as to why juveniles will take their first hit/drink/get high.
Social Disorganization
This theory works from the theory that substance abuse is a natural happenstance of neighborhoods and communities where there are high degrees of disorganization, poverty, hopelessness and lack of continuity.
Evaluations of this theory have been mixed. While there is certainly a correlation between poverty and crime, abuse has been shown across all socio-economic classes.
Studies of communities in disorganization have shown greater substance abuse, even outside of urban areas. The focus on many studies has been abuse in rural areas and Indian Reservations.
Peer Pressure
Peer Pressure is based on the social bond theory
Studies have shown that individuals NOT suffering from mental illness rarely abuse substances, unless there is a social influence, and parental influence is week.
Association with drug abusers, will increase an individual’s likelihood of initial usage
Shared feelings of intimacy among users is seen as a leading factor in long term usage
Family Factors
We have talked at length about the effect of a criminal parental influence on a child. What about children exposed to parental self-medication?
Children learn coping mechanisms from parents, more than any other influence in their lives.
Children in homes where substances are abused are given the moral affirmation of usage in coping, regardless of any rules set forth my the parent.
Poor family life can also lead a child to mental illness. Children may attempt to use an illicit substance to self-medicate from family problems as well.
Genetics
Genetics holds that certain types of psychologically dependent behaviors, as well as predispositions to abuse of certain substances is genetic in nature.
Traits of children who are likely to develop substance abuse problems can be observed as young as 6 years of age, independent of peer influences.
Identical Twins have shown a rate of shared substance abuse dependence at twice the rate of fraternal twins.
Children of adopted alcoholic parents, adopted by non-alcoholic parents, show a rate of alcohol addiction at 6 times the national average.
Problem Behavior Syndrome
This theory seeks to work backwards, looking at common traits among children that abuse substances. More specifically, the focus is on pre-abuse behavior.
Youth that decide to use drugs are traditionally maladjusted, emotionally distressed and have many social problems.
The correlation is that youth who embrace a deviant lifestyle, assume other deviant behaviors to justify their alienation.
Yes, this is all about the Labeling Theory!
Rational Choice
This theory holds that substance abuse is a rational choice. Children chose to abuse a substance because the benefit is seen as outweighing the harm. Why would a person WANT to abuse a substance?
Social Acceptance
Improve Creativity
Relax
Enjoy the high
Increase Sexual Stimulation (Ecstacy)
How to Combat Youth Abuse
There are many strategies employed to combat drug usage among youth and adults. You are probably familiar with many of these:
1) Source Control – This method focuses on eliminating the individuals trafficing in substances. Local users and pushers are seen as irrelevant. Removing the supply lines and large scale distributers is seen as the best way to combat accessibility.
More Strategies
Border Control – As it reads, this approach works from the premise that most illegal substances are imported form abroad. Securing reduces the importation of drugs.
Dealer Targeting – This approach holds that while there will always be cartels and users, products cannot move without the “middle-man”. Law enforcement efforts are focused on discouraging the dealer.
More Strategies
Education – This strategy focuses on informing a youth of the negative effect of abuse. This theory is a by-product of the Rational Choice Theory. If a child can be educated to see that the harm of usage outweighs the perceived benefit, a child will chose not to use or abuse.
Community Strategies – As the name implies, this theory focuses on strengthening a child’s social bonds, in order to combat the lifestyle of use and abuse, on multiple levels.
Two more!
Drug Treatment – This approach holds that children will abuse substances, and addiction is an inevitability. Proper treatment after addiction is seen as key to social healing. There is little empirical data this approach works, as the recidivism rate of children and adults who abuse is very high. In fact, residential treatment programs are shown to have almost the same relapse rate of a person who did not receive treatment and simply quit on their own!
Last one…
Harm Reduction
This is the multi-prong approach. The focus of this strategy encompasses:
Education of the harm of usage and community safety programs (like needle exchange programs)
Usage of lesser controlled narcotics to reduce the effects of addiction (ie, methadone)
Special diversion programs in the criminal justice system for offenders (drug court and mandatory treatment programs)
Availability for treatment at little or no cost, for all who wish to seek help.
