Juvenile Delinquency (Term Paper Sample)

Juvenile Delinquency
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Abstract
It is important to understand the role locations play in the crime commitment among the juvenile. Most juvenile crimes have been reported to be in school. The number of school crimes has increased over the years. Despite the increasing evidence in the high juvenile crimes in specific locations, many studies show that juvenile crimes have been in the recent past treated as adult crimes. This paper statistically analyses the juvenile crimes and particularly deals with illicit drug use in schools. It further discusses the research findings of the reports and suggests what should be done with the research findings. The increase in drug use among children in high school especially in the senior years has called for a review in the use of drugs among their age group.
Introduction
Schools and colleges are institutions that are reputable for contributing in the building of a nation’s foundation. It also serves as a foundation for stability and growth in the child’s life. One of the greatest social problems is the crimes in schools. This hinders the growth of a society both socially and economically. It is important to analyze the facts that influence and surround the school’s environment and its association to crime. Understanding the environment will help reduce the crime rates that occur in the learning institution. Several resources have been used to develop a range of research on juvenile crimes. The main aim of the studies conducted in this area is to understand and explain the sources and causes of juvenile crimes.
School related Juvenile Crime Problem
According to the population reports published by the United States department of commerce, an estimated 25% of the total populations are children under that age of 18 years. The number is expected to increase by the year 2020. This implies that the magnitude of issues affecting the children in the country is high. This exposes the children to a high risk of juvenile crimes. According to the juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, research shows that the juvenile engage in risky behaviors such as over speeding while driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. The incidents reported concerning juvenile crimes amountedto estimated value 710,000 violent crimes between the year 2009 and 2010. The crimes were serious violent crimes. It was estimated that person’s ages between 7 and 17 were likely to be victims of suicide as they were victims of homicide.
Although the rate at which juvenile offenders with cases related to drug abuse has declined, the rate of drug abuse by juvenile is still increasing. It is terrifying that the use of drugs in schools among students has been part of their daily routine to the school illicitdrug users. Most of the juvenile drug use cases have been traced from the age of 11. By the age of 11, most of them are counted as occasional drug users while at the age of 14 they are counted to be the regular users by the drug tests. There has been an estimated arrest of 2200 juveniles in cases related to drug abuse in school (Hartge and Smith, 2013). Mostly, high school seniors have been reported abusing drugs in the school premises. The abuse was done during recess and after the class hours. By 2011 school crime became common and 1 in every 8 students was involved in crime cases.
By 2010, of the crime rates reported in school, half of the cases were reported to be use illicit drug. The greater percentage admitted to using alcohol. 48% of the seniors in school used drugs, 37% of the 10th graders and 21% of the 8th graders were reported on crime cases involving drug use. Marijuana was reported to be the highly used illicit drugs by these students. Many juvenile drug users were reported to smoke marijuana more than cigarette(Morgan, Morgan & Santos, 2010).
The use of heroine was reported to be the declining over the years with its decline being attributed to an average of 0.3 every year. Drug abuse has affected the school performance of the victims, most of them reported to be introduced to the process by trusted friends in schools. The drug abuse report estimated that males the leading sex in the use of illicit drugs in school (Burfeind & Bartusch, 2011). Female sexes were reported to us drugs as a result of influence by their sexual partners in schools. Most of these cases happened in parties and school meetings outside the normal class hours. The illicit drug use led to a prevalence of gang activities such as stealing. These cases occurred due to the students’ thirst for drugs. Of all the gang cases reported, 3.8% of the cases were reported to be as a result of searching for money to purchase illicit drug by the juvenile.
Drug cases have led to the erosion of good values in the society. Morally upright students under the influence of drugs are hard to find. This is because their behaviors and actions are influenced by the drugs taken. Although most parents blame the schools for their children behavior of drug use, it is not the fault of schools that such children engage in illicit drug use.
Discussion on the Research Findings
The illicit drug use is mainly pointed out to alcohol in the juvenile cases. However, the use of marijuana has increased over the years. The research found out that the decline in juvenile arrests on illicit drug use had declined due to the offenders admitting to the use of the illicit drugs. The findings on the statistics are of great concern to the citizens. However, most illicit drug users in school turned to drugs as a result of depression or low income level in their background. In addition, the highest percentage of users especially in the senior levels were believe to perceive themselves as having ‘the highest self esteem’ among everyone else in their age group (Muschert, (2007).
Fingers are also pointed at the anti-drug education programs for the habitual illicit drug use; their weakness in addressing these issues has been a major cause of the juvenil...