Combating Juvenile Deliquency. Juvenile Delinquency Reduction Programs

Combating Juvenile Delinquency
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Combating Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile delinquents refer to young people—who have not attained eighteen years— to commit a crime for varied reasons (Thompson & Bynum, 2016). The offenses could be petty such as stealing loose change from parents to serious ones such as vandalism and murder. Opinions vary regarding how delinquent juveniles should be handled with some groups proposing punishment while others are suggesting correctional approaches. Psychologists have developed theories they believe trigger deviant behaviors among the minors. For example, they suggest that daily experiences and the environment shape their actions (Thompson & Bynum, 2016). Therefore, it is essential first to address the underlying issues to design a holistic strategy of combating juvenile delinquency. In this paper, I identify two programs my community uses to combat the menace, the sociological theories that shape the interventions, and an idea on how to enhance the current efforts.
Juvenile Delinquency Reduction Programs
My community focuses on two primary strategies namely education and Parent-Child Involvement training. The plans aim to address gaps that exist between parents, guardians and teachers that could promote delinquent acts. Therefore, they provide a holistic way of curbing delinquency.
Education
Education targets parents and children alike. Moderators teach parents how to raise socially-upright kids who know about the dangers of drugs, weapons, sex and the cost of crime. This strategy has been successful in California and Nevada as children are taught and encouraged always to discuss issues affecting them with their parents. Since miscommunication can cause unintended consequences, the instructors underscore the importance of face-to-face communication between parents and their children (Hirschi, 2017). Therefore, the intervention heightens awareness of the results of wrong actions while encouraging responsible behavior.
Parent-Child Involvement
The 12-month long program equips parents of children aged 2-7 years who exhibit behavioral challenges with relevant parenting skills. The parents interact with children as the therapist educates them on the best ways to respond to such behaviors (Hirschi, 2017). Since its inception, the program has helped to reduce attention deficit, anxiety, and aggression te...