Juvenile Justice

Role of Genetics

One of the biggest questions facing behavioral scientists today is whether genetics plays a role in formulating a propensity for criminal behavior and specifically for juveniles, delinquent behavior. While many studies have shown and even identified specific genes that have a tendency toward aggressive behavior, social scientists believe that social influences can either heighten the effects of these genes or can hinder their effectiveness.

The gene is the basic unit of heredity. Each gene either by itself or in combination with others controls specific characteristics associated with each individual. Sets of genes determine the nature and amount of growth of every portion of a person's body. In other words, genes that each of us receives from our parent's give us distinctive looks, development, and abilities that make each of us unique from one another.

Children at Risk

As we know, who and what we are is mainly determined from our parents. Genetics though only establishes our existence and plays a part in establishing who and what we can become. The environment we are exposed to while growing up also plays a part in that mix as well. A growing number of children are at risk coming from families that lack social support networks, have periods of unemployment, suffer depression, use drugs, suffer through divorce, and engage in abusive behaviors. As children experience these problems they become more vulnerable to other issues such as substance abuse, violence, teenage pregnancy, and suicide.

Some children through are resilient to these negative forces in their lives. They were able to establish positive bonds or relationships with an adult in their lives that mentored them. These positive experiences seem to buffer against certain negative developmental outcomes.

Individual Views of Delinquency

Causes of delinquency have been debated for many years. Some hold that delinquent behavior is purely a matter of choice where we can all decide whether we want to commit criminal acts or not. Others see delinquency as having a trait that we are born with or tend to develop over time according to our upbringing. The attached PowerPoint gives examples of these theories and how they were developed.