Risk factors and coping skills for juvenile victims

Three reasons that causes juveniles to engage in violent activities and crimes

One of the main underlying reasons as to why juveniles community violent crimes is due to some risk determinants  that they came across their lives at a younger age. Some of the risk determinates that are closely associated with juvenile crime are abject poverty, exposure to violence and crimes; drugs abuse, access to guns and other ammunition, rocky family life and violence within the family; irresponsible peers and influence from the  media. The decline in family values and an abusive and neglected life are one of the main reasons that causes violence criminal activities among the youth. (Jordan & Myers, 2011).

When family values decline among family members, a juvenile may lack proper guidance that may prevent them from engaging in crime. Family values instilled in a child play a very big role in ensuring that a child grows up to become a responsible individual therefore when family values decline, it can trigger engaging in criminal activities. (Pearl, Ashcraft, & Geis, 2009).

The second reason is living in abject poverty. When a youthful individual cannot get access to basic needs, they may seek an alternative way through perpetrating violent crimes in the society. Many young people have either been orphaned at an early age forcing them to fend for themselves without supervision from an adult. Some of them end up making poor choices and give their life to crime. Child abuse by family members also may manifest itself in very violent behavior. Poor environment within which the family of the youth reside of ten create a conducive place to commit violent crimes (Culhane, & Taussig, 2009).

 The short term effects on juvenile perpetrators who engage in brutal crime

Short term effects do not persist into adulthood. Short-term effects become less vital as the juvenile becomes more mature.one of the short term of effects is poor performance in academics due to the concentration of crime grades may tend to drop. The juvenile may be put in a juvenile prison due to the crime he committed .The juvenile can be isolated form the society. (Lipsey, 2009).

Exposing youths to violent crime can put them at risk of being depressed, anxious and self-esteem problems.A4lthough these problems seem short term, they must be handled careful y to minimize their impact on the juveniles. (Pearl, Ashcraft, & Geis, 2009).

Long term effects on juveniles who participate in violent crimes

Research often reveal that most of young people who serve in correctional facilities enter into the adult justice system because they persist with their behavior. Persistent in anti-social behavior may give rise to other associated behavior that will harbor criminal behavior. (Culhane, & Taussig, 2009).

Two rehabilitative services available in the juvenile justice system

Early intermediate programs

This program is meant to address any addiction and other dangerous behaviors that may be the underlying reason behind why the juvenile committed the crime. These programs are run through specialty courts .They come up with ways that juvenile can get rid of the additive behaviors and develop constructive behaviors. (Culhane, & Taussig, 2009).

Vocation training and engaging in community work

The vocation technical program are incorporated in some business communities in the community. They assist juveniles to develop employable skills which will divert them from crime. They help to change the behavior of the youth into a better person. (Pearl, Ashcraft, & Geis, 2009).

Effectiveness of rehabilitation services

Juvenile perpetrators can either be punished or rehabilitated .Vocational training and community work assist to develop a child and give a chance to become a better person in the future. Unlike punishment which seeks only retribution and instills fear which does not change the juvenile’s behavior. (Pearl, Ashcraft, & Geis, 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Culhane, S., & Taussig, H. N. (2009). The structure of problem behavior in a sample of maltreated youths. Social Work Research, 33(2), 70–78.

Jordan, K. L., & Myers, D. L. (2011). Juvenile transfer and deterrence: Reexamining the effectiveness of a “get-tough” policy. Crime & Delinquency, 57(2), 247–270.

Lipsey, M. W. (2009). The primary factors that characterize effective interventions with juvenile offenders: A meta-analytic overview. Victims & Offenders, 4(2), 124–147

Pearl, N., Ashcraft, R. P., & Geis, K. A. (2009). Predicting juvenile recidivism using the San Diego regional resiliency check-up. Federal Probation, 73(3), 46–49