Behavioral Theories and Juvenile Delinquency

STUDENT REPLIES

THIS PROFESSOR WHAT’S THE STUDENT RPLIES CITED SO PLEASE ADD THIS TO EACH RESPONSE BACK TO STUDENT THANKS….

STUDENT REPLY 1# Arnitia Jones

Based on my observations both personal and professional I can say that societal views on juvenile delinquents have changed tremendously. I can remember when I was growing up, if a child did something "bad" or committed what was considered a crime and the parent wasn't around then any adult that was there could reprimand that child, now days it isn't so because most adults are afraid of the youth today due to the fact of how they are portrayed in the media and from what they may see taking place in their own neighborhoods.

I feel as if most juveniles get a bad rap for what some are just doing, for instance if the news portrays a juvenile that has committed a crime as a black or brown teen with dread locks and dark clothing, then most people soon begin to become leery of all black and brown teens that fit that description, I also feel sat times the media can make certain situations seems or look far worse than what they are. Reading chapter 1 this week’s resource states that "misinformation and falsehoods have played a significant role in the evolving nature of the justice system's response to alleged young offenders"

Legal changes in how juveniles delinquents are handled has also changed, some for the good and some for the bad, because what we have now is some juveniles face charges for petty crimes, but the penalties may be stiffer than before and there are also less stiffer penalties for juvenile delinquents who commit more serious crimes such as juvenile offenders who repeatedly commit carjacking or robbery offensives they may just been given probation or sent home on a monitoring system because the local juvenile detention center may be filled to capacity. Juveniles may also get away with more crimes because legal issues in the past concerned law makers such as the infamous New York Case of The Central Park five, where those juveniles who weren't of consenting age were given polygraph test, mad to sign papers admitting to charges they didn't commit but were coerced into to saying they did only to be found innocent after being in jail for six years while all that they were made to do was against the law because of their ages.

STUDENT REPLY

STUDENT REPLY #2 Zachery Rudicil

Based on my professional experience working with the youth population, I would agree that the views of this population have changed in the past couple of years. This has change to a degree in which personally I tend to think about delinquency rather than “oh it’s just a teenage phase”. Personally, I look at how serious the act is before placing it in the category.

However, working in the public eye as a Mental Health Coordinator, I have seen people automatically label our youth in this community as “trouble or a menace”. I think that with changing times, sitting back, and witnessing what our country is experiencing right now, it is easier to label someone as troubled rather than giving them a chance to display their character themselves. I think that all the shootings, crimes against race, and the violence we see in today’s society plays an intricate role in how we view not only juveniles, but the general population as well.