Criminology

This article provides information related to the costs incurred by the community once a juvenile enters the juvenile justice system.  The writer, an attorney, defends rehabilitation for juvenile offenders as it serves as deterrence to future maladaptive behaviors. Drug courts are introduced and explained with regard to the implementation of the program into the juvenile justice system.  The article makes references to this program by citing statistics relating to specific programs.

The following article addresses potential environmental and social factors attributing to juvenile crime.  One specific issue addressed pertains to drug abuse among juveniles under the age of twenty-one.  While this article is older than five years, the information included is viable.  Specific familial living conditions, poverty, and unemployment all cater to the risk factors which subject a juvenile to an addiction.  Genetics and heredity are also addressed as adolescents who are the biological child of parents who also had addictions to drugs or alcohol.

There are many current investigations into violent crimes as they relate to juvenile drug abuse.  Juvenile crime and drug abuse is divided into three categories.  These categories are systemic, psychopharmacological, and economic compulsivity.  The main issues deal with supply and distribution as seen in areas of territory and violence.  The next topic addresses intoxication and its effects that produce criminogenic violence in juveniles.  The final category topic cites money as being the motivating factor with regards to drug dealing, theft, and prostitution in juveniles.

Mitigating factors incite criminal behavior in juvenile offenders.  These offenders are most often involved in a form of drug abuse.  Gang related behaviors among juvenile offenders are common, and drug dealing is the main source of generating money.  By conducting a study in Miami, Florida, the authors were able to determine the effects that drug abuse has on juveniles in the court system.  Ethnic and age groups were identified, which opened the door to the creation of a profile.  Demographics and economic statuses are important environmental factors that have proven to be contributing elements to a juveniles drug abuse, addiction, or criminal behaviors.

This is a very interesting article making unique revelations involving drug abuse among juveniles.  A psychological approach to juvenile delinquency and crime as it correlates to drug abuse brings out the rate of homelessness among adolescents.  The equation is introduced explaining how juvenile drug abusers often fall into a life of crime.  Juvenile prostitution and theft are described as being symptoms of a much larger problem.  Drug abuse is the root origin for criminal behavior among juveniles because they are uneducated and unemployed.

Statistical information including yearly reports, programs and their evaluations, training, and research conducted on juvenile offenders in relation to violent crimes and drug abuse. Advocacy programs included parents anonymous groups and missing and exploited children programs.  The missing children programs help to locate juveniles who are homeless.  Aftercare groups help juveniles to better understand the causes as they directly affect the effects.  Gang activity is calculated.  School safety, juvenile health, juvenile courts, and the juvenile offenders are categorized statistically into reports.