Parental Neglect and Youth offending
Literature Review
Studies show that child neglect and abuse are highly related to the long-term behaviors of the child. Poor parental skills have often been chosen as the first reason as to why children want to be defiant of law, even at a young age (Farrington, 2001, p. 203). Children that grow up with proper guidance and counseling from their parents are at a lower risk of getting into criminal life. Flores (2003, p. 3) emphasizes that abuse leads to a deficiency in this child where they become antisocial to their peers.
Their emotions are already messed up with especially for those who undergo violation and abuse. Evidence shows that the children who receive poor are harmful parenting are at risk of developing questionable characters. Farrington continues to explain (2001, p. 204) that criminal parents are more vulnerable to raise delinquent children. The crime will tend to be inherited because the delicate minds of the young ones will be open to receive what they see in their primary socialization unit. A study done by the Cambridge University showed that of the 400 males that were used as subjects those who had fathers, mothers or older siblings that had been convicted were at a higher chance of being convicted that the rest (Prather & Golden, 2008, p. 79).
This phenomenon was encouraged by mutual influences from one member of the family to the other. The opinion is supported by (Prather & Golden 2008, p. 80). They say that parents who develop psychiatric conditions are also at a higher risk of rearing delinquents. These parents are inadequate regarding taking care of themselves, which translate to the children they have. A different explanation by Farrington (2001, p. 204), shows that young women who have received poor parental guidance do not become criminals. They become attracted to a male who are criminals. The scenario can be attributed to the fact that they had seen crime when growing up and did not have much of it as they got used to it. The situation is referred to as “phenotypic assortment” the ability of people to characterize other people’s behavior to theim and get attracted to it. The other reason he gives is that “social homogamy” is bound to happen (Farrington, 2001.p. 205). The young people will grow up in the same neighborhoods, go the same schools, hung out together after school to play and finally engage in crime.
According to Prather and Golden (2008, p. 75). Recent data shows that the number of delinquents has increased drastically, and it can be related to parental guide. Social learning theory can be used to explain in details the reasons that can be used to clarify on the fact that the child learns a lot from the home surroundings than outside especially at a young age. A child that grows up in a violent environment is more likely to become violent if not differ from the behavior. United States statistics have significantly changed over the recent years on the number of children that are caught in crime (Flores, 2003, p. 4). For example, those that are found in murder cases increased to 1.1 Million teenagers in 2013. From that, a number a quarter were reported to be females. Meaning, even the feminine gender has also picked up criminal activity, and it is no longer a male problem. In 2013, 293,700 young offenders were females while 764,800 were male. The number seems to be growing by the day for the young ladies (Furdella & Puzzanchera, 2015.p. 1).
References
Farrington, P.D. 2001. Family Influence on Delinquency. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, LLC. Online. Available at< http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763760564/60564_CH10_Springer.pdf >
Flores, R.J. 2003. Risk and Protective Factors of Child Delinquency. U.S Department of Justice. Online. Available athttps://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/193409.pdf
Furdella, J. & Puzzanchera. 2015. Delinquency Cases in Juvenile Court, 2013. National Report Series: Juvenile Offenders and Victims. online. Available at <http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/248899.pdf
Pranther, W. & Golden, A. J. 2008. Leaning and Thinking: A Behavioral Treatise on Abuse and Antisocial Behavior in Young Criminal Offenders. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy. 5:1
