Possible Factors to Associate with this Crime
According to the social control theory, social learning and socialization creates self-control in an individual thus reducing the inclination to indulge in antisocial behavior. In this case, the 17 year old is engaging in crime due to failure in satisfying the individual’s need thus these needs act as factors pushing him to engage in crime. They are:-
Economic Factor (Employment): As noted earlier, this individual has to finance for himself and her sick and disabled grandmother.
Education: The individual has speaking and learning limitations despite the fact that he/she wants to progress to computer studies. The institution for learning also has plans to kick him out of school.
Lack of a social support structure: It is essential to note that this individual is an age that requires continued advice and care. However he does not have any of that. He has limited friends, only a mother encompasses his/her family and the school is not helping either.
Social Labelling Theory: Having being guilty in engaging in crime, the society has already labelled him/her a drug dealer and the youth has taken this as his/her character.
Individual factors: Despite the fact that the school wants to push him out of school, it is essential to note that the individual has listening, learning and speaking skills which will ultimately affect his/her academic performance.
Interaction with Drug Users and Dealers: The youth is not benefiting at all through associating with drug users and dealers for they will only dig him deep into the hole he/she is already in which may cause him/her to start using the drugs.
Possible Measures to Control the 17 Year from Engaging in Crime
As noted earlier, the traits of this youth indicate that his/her crime is motivated by failure in individual needs not being met. To respond to this issue therefore, there should be strategies in place to provide some if not all of these needs. This will be an appropriate correctional approach. In addition, the youth may be informed on negative consequences that may follow due to crime. In this case they are:-
Turning 18 years old: When this youth turns 18, which is a year from the current moment, he/she will be treated as an adult and will be in line for imprisonment.
Missing Out on Spending Time with the Grandmother: It is evident that this is the only family around. He/she should avoid engaging in any action that would their valuable time shorter.
Forgetting the Computer Career: With such criminal actions and the fact that he/she will be turning 18, it indicates that time is an essential resource and is not on the individual’s side. Loosing on education will mean minimal chances to advance in that profession.
Once the youth has been arrested and dealt with by the youth court system in place, the individual should be sentenced to probation and behavior correctional programs. It should be a community program that offers unique educational needs such as training on associating with community members, computer training for the unique educational needs and an arena that would end up allowing the individual to be exposed to possible employment opportunities.
In additional training to help the youth, training such as cognitive skills training in addressing anti-social thinking, life-skills training, educational, job-training and pre-employment, educational and psychological counselling including anger management, substance abuse and conflict resolution. In this approaches, the target is to empower the youth so that he/she can meet personal needs and goals.
Works Cited
Doob, Anthony N., and Carla Cesaroni. Responding to youth crime in Canada. Toronto, Ont.: University of Toronto Press, 2004. Print.
Matza, David. Delinquency and drift. New Brunswick, N.J., USA: Transaction Publishers, 1990. Print.
Muncie, John. Youth & crime. 2nd ed. London: SAGE Publications, 2004. Print.
"Supporting Youth in Conflict With the Law." Youth and the Law. N.P., n.d. Web. 12 June 2013. <http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/en/supporting_youth_law>.
"Youth Court." Youth Offending: Factors that Contribute and how the System Responds -. N.P., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.justice.govt.nz/courts/youth/publications-and-media/speeches/youth-offending-factors-that-contribute-and-how-the-system-responds>.
"Youth and the Law." Youth and the Law. N.P., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/index.aspx>.
