Contents

Juvenile Delinquency
Origins and purposes of social
norms and rules of conduct
Conformity & Deviance
History
Types
Characteristics
Juvenile Delinquent activity
Crimes and offensive behavior
Statistics
 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

• Crime- is an act harmful not only to an individual, but also to

the community or the state. Such acts are forbidden and
punishable by law.

• Juvenile Delinquent- a person who is under the age of 18

commits an act that otherwise would have been charged as a
crime if they were an adult.

• Juvenile Delinquency- also known as youth crime, is

participation in illegal behaviour by minors (<18)
SOCIAL NORMS & RULES OF CONDUCT

• Norms: a standard or pattern, especially of social behavior that

is typical or expected of a particular group.
 SOCIAL NORMS & RULES OF CONDUCT
CONT’D
• Social norms, the informal rules that govern behavior in groups and
societies, have been extensively studied in the social sciences.
Anthropologists have described how social norms function in
different cultures (Geertz 1973), sociologists have focused on their
social functions and how they motivate people to act (Durkheim
1895 [1982], 1950 [1957]
•  Adherence to norms influences market behavior (Akerlof 1976;
Young 1998a). More recently, also legal scholars have touted social
norms as efficient alternatives to legal rules
• Social norms are seen as central to the production of social order or
social coordination
• Norms are conceived as a means to achieving some goals
 CONFORMITY

• CONFORMITY: pressure to behave in ways that are viewed

acceptable or appropriate by a group of people in a society.
REASONS PEOPLE CONFORM:
1. To fit in
2. Belief that the group is better informed
 DEVIANCE

• Departing from usual or accepted standards, especially in

social or sexual behavior
• A behavior that violates expected rules and norms
DEVIANCE CONT’D
DEVIANCE CONT’D
DEVIANCE CONT’D
 LABELLING THEORY

The idea is that once labeled as

deviant a young person may accept
that role and be more likely to
associate with others who have
been similarly labelled
WHY TREAT JUVENILES DIFFERENTLY

• juveniles are young and may easily change

• more susceptible to treatment
• juveniles have a high rate of ‘desistance’
• most never get in trouble again
• juveniles’ families important to their lives
• state acts in partnership w/ family to treat child
• juveniles are easily influenced by peers
• juvenile crime is a group phenomenon
• removed from the group, child will behave
• juveniles have little responsibility for others
• easier to get them to isolate & modify behavior
 HISTORY

• Delinquency problems began to receive public attention

particularly since the establishment of justice for juvenile
delinquents (juvenile court) in 1899 in Illinois , USA.
 Individual
delinquen
Types cy

Group-
Organised
Juvenile supported
delinquency DELINQUENCY delinquen
cy:

Situational
delinquency
 CHARACTERISTICS

1. The delinquency rates are many time higher for boys

than girls.
2. The delinquency rates tend to be highest during early
adolescences (12-16 age group).
3. Juvenile delinquency is more an urban than rural
phenomenon.
4. Low education background is the prime attribute of
delinquency.
5. Poor Economics background is also leads to delinquency.
 CAUSAL FACTORS

Poverty

Many youth are

forced into delinquent
activities because of a
social disadvantage.
 CAUSAL FACTORS CONT….

The Delinquent Gene

Genes may play a part

in determining whether
we turn to crime,
research shows.
 CAUSAL FACTORS CONT….

Family conflict and criminality

 CAUSAL FACTORS CONT….

Low intelligence and academic failure

 CAUSAL FACTORS CONT….

Hyperactivity & Impulsivity

noxious behaviors that

are in most cases
biological.
 CAUSAL FACTORS CONT….

Social Learning

Do as you see is the underlying principle.

Societal trends tends to influence youth
activity
 MALE PHENOMENON

• Youth crime is

disproportionately committed

by young men.
 JUVENILE DELINQUENT ACTIVITY

Substance abuse
Behavior that contribute
to health risks
JUVENILE DELINQUENT ACTIVITY
CONT…

Gang Involvement

Gangs often engage in

illegal monetary
activities and are
committed to criminal
orientations.
 JUVENILE DELINQUENT ACTIVITY
CONT…

Public and Private Vandalism

These are malicious and
deliberate defacement or
destruction of both public
and private property. It
often territorial and
designed to show
ownership.
CRIMES AND OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR
MAY BE ARRESTED FOR:

Violent Crimes:
• Aggravated assault;
• Homicide;
• Rape;
• Robbery;
PROPERTY CRIMES:

• Arson
• Car thefts
• Burglaries
• Larceny
STATISTICS
• In Highest
incidence  15
yrs & above
• Among boys 
4-5 times more
than girls.
JUVENILE DELINQUENTS STATISTICS
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN JAMAICA

https://www.unicef.org/jamaica/media/546/file/Situation%20Analysis%20of
%20Jamaican%20Children%20%E2%80%93%202018.pdf