As Stacia Tauscher once said “we worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today. ” For my opinion is true, young offender population has increased of the years. Parents may be worried about their children’s future instead of watching them while they’re are in their sights. Thought out history there were some young offender but not a crime to get punished for. By modern times some crimes have be become unusual drastic of children. 2004 12 year old schoolboy was arrested , fingerprinted, DNA tested and formally reprimanded. Matthews) Only to find out that a fork was throw to a girl over a argument during recess. (Matthews) Some of the crimes are caused by the five factors commonly known for reasons such as
1. ) individual characteristics – there may be challenging behaviours that are exhibited for most children at various stages of development, some children exhibit behaviours which are much worse than age-appropriate people. Their extreme behaviours are characterized as aggression, hostility, rule breaking, and extreme anti-social behaviour. When this behaviour is severe, the results are sure to be a negative impact on people around them. hey can be surely said to have a conduct disorder. having closely related studies to increased rates of offending. Children who develop conduct disorder have come from home environments that have many sources of social, economic disadvantage. Studies shown that it’s not the presence of one specific disadvantage. Such as poverty that determines an adverse outcome. It has been estimated that 5 – 10 % of the 3 – 17 year old population exhibits behaviour which could be categorised as conduct disorder, and 75% of those children will be male. ,
2. family factors – Families play an enormous role in causing risk for future offending. A positive family environment is proven to be a strong base,and a negative environments can be a significant risk factor for who are anti-social. Family risk factors cause offending to be slightly different for life course offenders. Life Course offenders usually have multiple adversities to deal with in childhood. Tending to produce neurodevelopmental problems, which causes social adjustment issues. From the very first years a child’s brain development it learns social behaviours by influenced the environment they encounter.
Problems can be used as early experiences create a lens through which all relationships are viewed. Expose to violence at a young age has been well studied in recent years. Repeated exposure to violence early a child’s development can be alter. The central nervous system is particularly sensitive to traumatic experiences in early years, and can result in the overstimulation of certain brain structures. kids exposed to trauma have been found to have increased overall arousal, increased startle response, sleep disturbance, and abnormal cardiovascular.
When the brain becomes “wired” in this way it can interrupt the opportunities for development of prosocial skills. The Christchurch Health and Development Study shows that exposure to harsh or abusive treatment during childhood greatly increases their risk of juvenile offending. When a young offender changes address frequently, not only are they at greater risk of dropping out of school, but develops fewer positive friends, and boredom they have less chance of experiencing the protective factors from the community, such as cultural groups, team sports, and religious groups. 3. )school/ work factors – School is important, for young person with a academic skills to achieve success and happiness. It also teaches prosocial attitudes and skills. Helps develop friendships and forms a sense of belonging. All these contribute the development of self-esteem. Schools is also a place where young person are most of the day. What is clear from the studies is that the co relationship is so strong that all efforts return to a young person to the education system to be beneficial.
One study has found that just merely attending on a regular basis appears to reduce the likelihood of offending. , 4. )peers – when a young person associates with a friend who is already engaging in offending or is other anti-social. The friendship can become a training ground for anti social behaviour. Studies have shown that association with antisocial peers increases the likelihood of offending. The risk from antisocial peers is a strong feature of a adolescent onset offenders who may have had positive childhoods, but begin to pick up several risk factors in adolescence.
Once they reaching puberty the influence of a family decreases and the influence of peers increases. In fact, of all the risk factors having causal relationships with youth offending, anti social peers are the strongest. The negative influence from anti-social peers are also found in life course persistent offenders, these offenders tend to be the “bad influences” for other young people, and would commit offences with or without their anti-social peers. In some studies that puberty represents a “maturity gap” for adolescents.
Puberty produces a strong desire to be older, or more mature. Slightly older peers who are committing offences appear resemble the independence and choices to become adult (such as drinking alcohol, or driving cars). In this way, exposure to the activities of anti-social peers can increase the likelihood of offending. Another strong risk factor related to peers is alcohol and drug abuse. While there is currently some debate about whether alcohol and drug abuse causes offending. , and 5. biological factors – The relationship between risk and protective factors is extremely complex. For example, studies have shown that an adequate parent (knowing where your child is) is protective against youth offending. Researchers agreed that amongst lower socioeconomic groups. an adequate parent is seen as a sign of care and concern; that the child is important to the adult. However in higher socioeconomic groups parents does not provide the same protection, perhaps because it is seen more as a sign that the child is not trusted.
While association with antisocial peers has been well established as a powerful risk factor for adolescent onset offenders, that risk factor is strongly moderated in the presence of strong bonds to family or school, or strong communication skills on the part of the young person. One study has shown that the antisocial peer group only starts to exert an influence when relationships with parents start to unravel. It has been demonstrated that the presence of at least one strong parental relationship may lead to fewer behavioural problems. a strong relationship with a sibling or extended family member is helpful.
Though other research shows that families with 19 or more risk factor have a high possibility end with multiple problems as teenagers than 6 or fewer risk factors. (Becorft). Some parental opinions have been accusing televise programs of broadcasting graphic pictures. Over the past decade research have shown that teens at age 13 and older have increased violence behavior by 25% . As for early teens it seems that violence don’t occur much to affect their behavior. Third thing for young offender is some are given a second chance by taking trophy classes program or rehab for youth.