Juevenile Delinquency Essay - 904 Words

The Criminology of the Juvenile Mind Criminology is defined as the scientific study of the nature, extent, cause and control of criminal behavior. Due to the non-ending threat of crime, violence and even terror threats, criminology has gained in popularity as an academic field of study. Criminology is the scientific approach to studying criminal behavior. {Larry Siegel, Criminology Theories, patterns amp; Typologies, 2004.} In studying criminal behavior scientist have categorized the period between childhood and adulthood as adolescents. The age is generally from 12 to 18 years of age. The vast majority of adolescents who suffer from poverty, neglect and abuse, do not commit crimes. They struggle in their chaotic environment with†¦show more content†¦With the addition of JCA juveniles were then determined to have the right to due process, which resulted from re Gault in 1967. With presidents like that of re Gault being put into place, there are also many alternatives to jail, and institutionalizing teenage offenders. Some alternates include dismissal, restitution, psychiatric therapy and community based residential programs. Once a juvenile offender enters the system and sentencing has been processed, time served, the option of probation or parole can exist. Probation permits the juvenile offenders to remain in the community under the supervision of a probation officer, subject to certain conditions imposed by the court. {Clemens Bartollas, Juvenile Delinquency, 2003, Glossary.} Parole and probation where developed in the 19th century, and the â€Å"father of probation† is John Agustus. The rights and responsibilities of juveniles and there parents continue to evolve as time moves into the 21st century, however, it is still unknown why and how the criminal mind truly works across the board. With progress and legal assistance the ‘system’ may have fewer juvenile clients, and less repeat offenders. Many experts in the field of theory have varying beliefs as to why crime exists, including socialization or the Sociological Theory due to environmental or disorganization within urban areas that lead to breeding grounds for crime. Other theorist use Classical Theories stating that crime is