Juvenile Delinquency in the U.S. Essay

Juvenile delinquency poses a serious problem in the contemporary society, with the authorities often having a limited influence on preventing it. Society in general has had the tendency to devise different agendas meant to address juvenile delinquency. This is also one of the reasons why correctional institutions normally have laws that can only be applied in cases involving minors. While status offenses can also be applied in cases involving adults, they are typically considered in situations where a minor committed an illegality. The fact that the criminal is a part of a specific group means that he or she is going to be provided with special treatment -- the authorities implement regulations that can only be considered for that particular group.

Many schools have specially designed programs meant to inform students with regard to the effects that juvenile delinquency has on society and on individuals involved in it. Courses meant to address juvenile delinquency have become increasingly popular in educational institutes today, as the masses seems to have acknowledged the significance of teaching individuals with regard to the legal aspect of being a member of a social order.

More and more people believe that the differences between adult and juvenile courts of law have become undistinguishable. One of the biggest differences is the fact that juvenile courts do not normally have a jury to partake in the trial. Instead, the judge is typically the one who has to decide with regard to the accountability of the defendant. Another major difference is the fact that bail is rarely taken into account when considering juvenile offenders. These people normally have to demonstrate that they do not represent a threat for the social order in order for the authorities to release them from custody.

In some cases penalties can be more severe for minors than they are for adults, as judges aim to provide them with more support as they attempt to reintegrate the social order. This often happens in situations when the crime is not especially severe. In other cases minors benefit from being a part of their community as a consequence of judges providing less serious penalties. In a situation involving a serious crime, for example, an adult would risk being provided with a sentence of life imprisonment while a minor would be likely to be released while still in his twenties. Minors need to go through a more complex process in comparison to adults in a situation involving a small crime because the authorities are determined to help them gain a better understanding of the condition they are in and the ways they need to revise their thinking in order to successfully reintegrate the social order.

There are a series of factors that make it more likely for an individual to express interest in wanting to engage in illegal activities. These vary and can be identified in a series of situations, ranging from birth traumas to child abuse. Problems within the family are often the reason why…