Introduction
This paper is to detail those ideas that are believed to cause juvenile delinquency. It is so right that youths of today are facing their downfall because of matters of crime in the society. Therefore social disorganization theory apparently points out how neighborhoods have diligently contributed to juvenile delinquency. In this context, we find that the communities in question tend to accelerate the rate at which the juvenile engage in delinquent behaviors. Therefore juvenile delinquency is the involvement of younger persons who range from 10 to 17 years in illegal activities, on the same note juvenile delinquency is that act of these younger individuals tends to display conduct of rebellion in that they are regarded to be out of their parents' control. In this manner, the court is forced to intervene and subjects them to legal practices in the juvenile detention centers. Due to the harsh treatments of children, it was suggested that a court system for juveniles should be established. In doing so, the children who were in trouble were to be helped rather than being punished. Thus, the juvenile court was formed.
Rutter " Michael (81) points out that, delinquent child as those who opt to commit crimes meant for adults under the law. In recent years many youths have indulged in severe crimes for instance murder. Due to this fact, some states opt to try some juveniles as adults and therefore may be imprisoned in adult courts. It a complicated task when trying to explain delinquency and crime because there are a lot of factors that make juvenile to have delinquent behaviors. Therefore psychological, social and biological factors efficiently help in explaining delinquency. On the same note, delinquency can be regarded as surrounding and the environment in which inhabiting the juveniles. The delinquent behavior in minors can be recognized today through the reporting of the media
Researchers have approximated that 30 % of boys in the United States are likely to be arrested before the age of eighteen years. Studies have also shown that failure factors such as dropping out of school, poor academic performance, expulsion from school can explain or predict the likelihood of crime causation in future. Due to this fact, the juveniles will lack the social skills obtained in school as well as unable to meet the deadlines. Apparently, the peer pressure makes other youths to develop delinquent behaviors. They try to copy the conduct of their friends. If the juveniles decide to commit the offenses, they will be sentenced to county detention or o probation. The delinquent crimes include misdemeanor felony or infraction offenses. The following are processes that lead from the social disorganization to youth crime
Neighborhoods
According to the research done in the city of Chicago by Shaw " McKay (81), they found out that the dispersing of the rate of crime is not even in the city of Chicago. Therefore crime was often concentrated in a particular neighborhood. The disorganization theory tends to explain that, in the neighborhoods with a high rate of crime, the crime rate is always high regardless of which people lived there at any particular time. Therefore it is evident that if this group of juveniles moved to a lower area where the crime rate is low, the activities of crime often decreased. Thus the observation made by Shaw and MacKay concludes that offense is due to the function of the neighborhood. In hits regard the central question remains; what are the characteristics of a community that can make it crime rate relatively high.
According to Warner " Barbara (270), there is a more significant influence of social disorganization on crime which can be pointed out through the effects on collective competence. Thus the socially disorganized communities display low joint capability in that the locals are not willing to fight for the good of the neighborhood. Apparently, the residents show some form of mistrust towards each other. The social disorganization theory, therefore, indicates the structural disadvantages the blocks face for instance racial and ethnic heterogeneity, poverty single parenting households, and residential mobility. The factors contribute the higher rate of juvenile delinquency. In this context, it is found out that structural neighborhood disadvantage has lead to some of the social processes resulting in neighborhood disorganization and a very high rate of growing problems. It is entirely correct that the social process is worse in neighborhoods that are so much disadvantaged. But also, other areas can also be affected by the high rate of crime. Regarding neighborhoods which are highly characterized to be disadvantaged due to the social structure, it is eminent that they don’t portray high crime rates. Therefore, the social process varies in neighborhoods which are structurally disadvantaged.
Sampson " Robert (70) further notes that there is a relationship between social disorganization theory in relation to juvenile crime and delinquency. The evidence suggests that, it is not known if the social process is applicable similarly to other types of disadvantaged neighborhoods. We can therefore conclude that the social process apply to a particular area which is depressed economically. Some researchers also predict that the socio-economic status in neighborhoods may increase crime and the delinquency rates. It was found out that so many youth engaged in acts like; robbery, burglary, vandalism and total victimization. This is to say that the rate of these acts is too high. Therefore through numerous surveys conducted by researchers, we can say that social disorganization influence crime rate for the youth.
Family Process
Based on the findings of Sampson (23) there is an indication that social disorganization theory has an effect to so many juveniles in relation to the structure of the family and its stability. This is to say that some incidences such as improper guardianship and the removal of some control structure which is very important in controlling the youth behavior. In this context, Simpson argues that for individuals who were ever married or are either divorced, there is a probability that many youths in this in this type of family structure have a likelihood of participating in a crime. On the same note, there is an indication that higher percentage families headed by females are also affected by juvenile delinquency. Finally, Sampson points out that in most single-headed households the rate of crime tends to be higher as compared to other types of family structures. Therefore the family structure vehemently shows the source of social disorganization. Apparently, researchers such as McNulty " Bellar (710) outline the importance of the family process concerning social disorganization theory. Based on the ideas of the researchers there is a difference between some ethnic groups and that of the adolescent violence. In this context, we find that they find that the whites and blacks often fight in most communities.
The conflict between the whites and blacks leads to some of the younger individuals indulging in some form of crime. The research signifies that the social disorganization theory has a potential of influencing the rate of juvenile violence in family process effects.
Therefore there is a consolidation in the empirical findings in so much relate the social disorganization and family process and the juvenile delinquency and youth violence by so doing. Researchers have developed a unique emphasis on the management of the family, their development and child health. Studies show that the community and the entire family should take part in preventing child abuse, prenatal care and the monitoring of the behavior of the youth. In so doing they will intertwine the community and bring the social organization. Therefore, the social disorganization theory brings influence to the children and that of the family processes and the delinquency to crime and its ultimate rates (Blau " Blau 113).
Economic Deprivation
According to Bursik " Robert (82), economic deprivation is another factor that hindering youth violence, in that there is an essential relationship regarding social disorganization theory. Research indicates that economic deprivation may influence the rate of juvenile delinquency and crime. In contrast, other researchers tend to argue that conditions of poverty hinder s social disorganization on youth violence. Therefore it is right to say that the higher rate of crime in the youth is due to social disorganization. Studies show that the well being of a community concerning the economy determines the variation of delinquency rates; therefore, some of the poor communities are unable to point out the interest sufficiently.
The critical aspect discussed is due to the absence of money and knowledge. Apparently, researchers argue that the relationship between youth violence and economic deprivation is very complicated. In those societies that value egalitarianism, there is a creation of latent animosity because of the characteristics of a race due to the social disorganization. Thus chances of economic inequalities may be seen due to such features (Bursik " Robert 82). Due to this fact, there are effects such as hopelessness, resentment, frustration and some form of alienation. Therefore, the results lead to social disorganization a higher rate of crime among the youth.
There are also findings that suggest that environmental influences, parental influences, and poverty may hinder the anti-social behavior. In this context, the neighborhood problem and peer pressure alter the adolescent behavior. Therefore, this finding supports the notion that economic deprivation may lead to social disorganization, In contrast, some studies show that poverty may bring balance between social disorganization and crime. All the factors which have been discussed vehemently indicate that we must consider economic deprivation as an essential factor that examines social disorganization theory as the leading factor in crime. This is to say that poverty can increase the social disorganization which apparently leads to violence among the youth. On the same note, the poverty also is a factor that efficiently conditions oh how social disorganization and crime relates (Bursik " Robert 260).
Equally important, there is a suggestion concerning social disorganization that the private investment and public spending should be done in areas that are impoverished. By doing so, the funding will enable the most impoverished neighborhoods on programs that will allow the reduction of crime. Therefore, this will strengthen the minority agencies in the impoverished areas. Additionally, the agencies created will create jobs for the youths and the residents; thus this will reduce the mobility of residents from one place to another hence building a social action and strengthening the residential interactions (Rutter and Michael 82). On the same perspective, preservation programs in the family should also be funded. This is because the family is the critical factor that will resist all the effects of social disorganization in that they can cater to all the needs of the family. Hence advocating for the family preservation programs is found to be a successful way of developing social work (Bursik " Robert 261).
Conclusion
Juvenile delinquency is a very nasty problem in our society in that if the problem is not sufficiently addressed, the juveniles may turn to be criminals in the coming days. The youth have been found to be so violent hence this has threatened the security of the society. Due to this fact, the problem in question should be addressed with an immediate effect. The ways that can eliminate the problem of juvenile delinquency is by understanding its causes. Thus a solution can be found when we know what we are dealing with. It is also evident from research conducted that the juveniles who are educated are less likely to participate in crime. Therefore, it is essential for the government to promote education as a factor in eliminating juvenile delinquency. Equally important is the provision of a well socially organized community which supports low rates of delinquency. Therefore according to social disorganization theory, juvenile delinquency is examined by all the factors in the study.
Work Cited
Blau, Judith R., and Peter M. Blau. "The cost of inequality: Metropolitan structure and violent crime." American sociological review (1982): 114-129.
Bursik, Robert J., and Harold G. Grasmick. "Longitudinal neighborhood profiles in delinquency: The decomposition of change." Journal of Quantitative Criminology
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McNulty, Thomas L., and Paul E. Bellair. "Explaining racial and ethnic differences in serious adolescent violent behavior." Criminology 41.3 (2003): 709-747.
Rutter, Michael, and Henri Giller. "Juvenile delinquency: Trends and perspectives." (1983): 82.
Sampson, Robert J., and W. Byron Groves. "Community structure and crime: Testing social- disorganization theory." American journal of sociology 94.4 (1989): 774-802.
Shaw, Clifford R., and Henry D. McKay. "Juvenile delinquency and urban areas." Chicago, Ill (1942).
Warner, Barbara D., and Shannon K. Fowler. "Strain and violence: Testing a general strain theory model of community violence." Journal of Criminal Justice 31.6 (2003): 511-521.
