Philippine Normal University

Taft Avenue, Manila

College of Arts and Social Sciences

Prepared by:

Maria Regina M. Ramos

 What is Juvenile
Delinquency?
W ithout doubt, one of the main concerns in crime nowadays is Juvenile Delinquency.
There has been a delinquency ever since the 1980's. It may not include the
delinquency tag we have today, but it still existed. Juvenile delinquency is a social
problem that has to be deal with.

But how did all begin? Let’s trace back the history of Juvenile Delinquency. Children,
until the 1700's, did not obtain any particular treatment or acknowledgment from the society.
Discipline, in the past is what we can describe at this time as “abuse”. However, towards the end
of the 18th century, "The Enlightenment" comes out as a new cultural change.

This stage in history is at times identified as the “beginning of reason and humanism.”
The community begins to see children as little individuals, who needed fostering in order to
grow. Children had started to become known as a distinctive crowd. Juvenile crime is revealed as
faraway as primeval Sumeria and Hammurabi, where laws regarding juvenile offenders first
show in written type.

After we have discussed of the roots of Juvenile Delinquency, let’s now define what
Juvenile Delinquency is.

Juvenile Delinquency refers to unlawful acts done by juveniles. Juveniles are used to
refer to someone who is under the age of adulthood. A Juvenile Delinquent is an individual who
continually commits offense; nevertheless these juvenile delinquents may perhaps have
psychological disorders or behavioral issues.

How do theorists associate

Juvenile Delinquency?
Here are some of the Theoretical perceptions regarding Juvenile Delinquency:

1. The Rational Choice Theory

It tells that people think about the positive and negative side of doing an offense, and
cause offense after the previous prevail over the last.
 Classic theorists explain that grounds of crime lie within the person or offender, more
willingly than in their exterior surroundings.
According to classicists, the delinquents are provoked by rational self-centeredness, and
the value of free will and individual duty is put emphasis on.
Rational choice theory does not get hold of into explanation the established connections
involving certain societal conditions and individuals’ characters, and the tendency to
commit crime.

2. Social disorganization theory

Positivist approaches in general focus on the literary and socio-economic surroundings to
which a juvenile individual has been exposed, and how these circumstances may be
factors of committing an offense.
This theory do not emphasizes individual activity, and stresses that illegal actions is
mainly determined by aspects exterior to a juvenile's control.
Social disorganization theory states that crime is created by the collapsing of fixed values
and rules.

3. Strain theory

Strain Theory is linked primarily with the work of Robert Merton.

Strain theory informs that crime originated by the complicatedness of individuals living
in poverty; that includes them of getting generally respected goals by legal ways.
Strain theory not succeeds to give explanation to brutal crime, the type of youth crime
which causes most concern to the public.

4. Subcultural theory

The incapability of juveniles to get within society respected position and goals results in
clusters of immature citizens forming unusual or offending subcultures, which have their
own principles and rules. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.552)
Subcultural theorists have been assessing for making too sharp a difference between what
is nonstandard and what is standard.

5. Differential association

The theory of Differential association deals with juveniles in a group situation, and come
across at how peer pressure and the survival of gangs could direct them into crime. It
advocates that immature individuals are provoked to commit crimes by criminal peers,
and discover criminal skills from them.
There is a strong proof that young people with criminal acquaintances are more possible
to commit crimes themselves.
7. Labeling theory

Labeling theory states that when on one occasion adolescents have been labeled as
criminal they are more likely to cause offense. (Eadie & Morley: 2003 p.552)
Labeling theorists speaks of male kids from deprived families are more likely to be
labeled abnormal, and that this may somewhat clarify why there are more mass
adolescent male offenders.

What are the Risk Factors?

A. Individual Factors

Intelligence
Impulsiveness or the inability to setback satisfaction
Aggression
Empathy
Restlessness

B. Family Factors

Intensity of parental control

The way parents control a child
Parental disagreement or separation
Criminal parents or siblings
Parental violence or abandon
The quality of the parent-child connection

How Philosopher looks at

Juvenile Delinquency?
Feminism and others have examined suggested that ideas of masculinity may make
young men more likely to cause offense. Being strong, influential, violent, courageous and
aggressive may be a means of young men to express their masculinity.