Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 43

juvenile delinquency - Nature and causes, Theoretical Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency and Crime

The anti-social behaviour of young people which may or may not be criminal. Theories explaining juvenile delinquency abound in criminology and sociology. Many account for such youthful misconduct in terms of playfulness, rebelliousness, frustration, or as a form of working-class rebellion against the inequities and frustrations of capitalism. Criminal statistics indicate that some groups tend towards greater delinquency than others; this may, however, reflect the fact that certain groups (eg young blacks in Europe) receive a greater amount of attention and even hostility from law enforcement agencies.

Criminology and Penology
Theories
Anomie
Differential Association Theory
Deviance
Labelling Theory
Rational Choice Theory
Social Control Theory
Social Disorganization Theory
Social Learning Theory
Strain Theory
Subcultural Theory
Symbolic Interactionism · Victimology
Types of crimes
Blue-collar crime · Corporate crime
Juvenile crime
Organized crime
Political crime · Public order crime
Public order case law in the U.S.
State crime · State-corporate crime
White-collar crime
Penology
Deterrence · Prison
Prison reform · Prisoner abuse
Prisoners' rights · Rehabilitation
Recidivism · Retribution
Utilitarianism
Criminal justice portal
See also: Wikibooks:Social Deviance
This box: view • talk • edit

Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles.

Nature and causes

Juvenile Delinquency may refer to either violent or non-violent crime committed by persons who are (usually) under the adult age (In the United States, 18). There are many different inside influences that are believed to affect the way a child acts both negatively and positively, some of which are as follows:

Abandonment Social institutions Peer pressure

Theoretical Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency and Crime

Travis Hirschi

A scholar in the field of crime and juvenile delinquency as well as other areas, has numerous theories about juvenile delinquency. Policies (2006) by Malcolm Klein and Cheryl Maxson American Youth Violence (1998) by Franklin Zimring Street Wars: Gangs and the Future of Violence (2004) by Tom Hayden Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun 1995() by Geoffrey Canada Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic (1996) by James Gilligan Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them (1999) by James Gabarino Last Chance in Texas: The Redemption of Criminal Youth (2005) by John Hubner Breaking Rank: A Top Cop’s Expose of the Dark Side of American Policing (2005) by Norm Stamper

User Comments Add a comment…

K(azi) N(azrul) Islam - Early life, Rebel poet, Revolutionary, "Mass music", Exploring religion, Later career, Illness and later life [next] [back] juvenile court - Purpose of Juvenile Court