Definition of terms: Juvenile- not yet fully matureOf, relating to, characteristic of, intended for, or appropriate for

children or young people( Merriam Webster) Delinquent meaning in the legal aspect A delinquent act is an act committed by a child that is designated a violation, misdemeanour, or felony offense under the law of a state or of another state if the act occurred in another state or under federal law or a violation of a municipal ordinance except violations of municipal curfew ordinances.

Juvenile Delinquency To criminologists the meaning of juvenile delinquency encompasses all public wrongs committed by young people between the ages of 12 and 20. While for a sociologists they view the concept more broadly, believing that it covers a multitude of different violations of legal and social norms, from minor offences to serious crimes, committed by juveniles that particular action or behaviour is considered a violation of the law only if it is committed examples include truancy and running away. This is an attempt to explain the theoretical underpinnings of delinquency; sociologists associate the specifics of youth behaviour with the home, family, neighbourhood, peers and many other variables that together or separately influence the formation of young people s social environment. Introduction There are many young people now day start to defer when it comes to what traditional setting of way of thinking, they start to stray away from what society wants youth to act today. They started to do drink, to do drugs and other that should not be done by youth today as stated by society. Here we would like to discuss the effect, cause of juvenile delinquency and how this could affect ones future. Contributing factors The causes of and conditions for juvenile crime are usually found at each level of the social structure, including society as a whole, social institutions, social groups and organizations, and interpersonal relations. Juveniles choices of delinquent careers are the consequent perpetuations of delinquency are fostered by a wide range of factors, the most important of which will be described. Economic plays an import role due to the fact our economy is unstable that could lead to unemployment and low income. Since people of the lower class are prone to choose in criminal activity. Studies show that children who receive adequate parental supervision are less likely to engage in criminal activities. Dysfunctional family settings characterized by conflict, inadequate parental control, weak internal linkages and integration, and premature autonomy are closely associated with juvenile delinquency. Children in disadvantaged families that have few opportunities for legitimate employment and face a higher risk of social exclusion are overrepresented among offenders. According to a 1992 journal article by E. M. Scholte Family factors which may affect the development of juvenile delinquency include intense and relentless family conflict. Such conflict could be characterized by domestic violence dysfunctional family cohesiveness child abuse and neglect parental inability to express appropriate affection toward a child lack of adequate supervision of a child and rigid and nondemocratic child rearing practices. Peer factor;Youth policies seldom reflect an understanding of the role of the peer group as an institution of socialization. Membership in a delinquent gang, like membership in any other natural grouping, can be part of the process of becoming an adult. Adolescence is a stage of development in which acceptance by one's peers becomes extremely important to the juvenile's sense of self-worth.

The media plays a major role in youth everyday lives. One of this is television and movies have popularized the cult of heroes , which promotes justice through the physical elimination of enemies. Many researchers have concluded that young people who watch violence tend to behave more aggressively or violently, particularly when provoked. This is mainly characteristic of 8- to 12-year-old boys, who are more vulnerable to such influences. Media bring an individual to violence in three ways. First, movies that demonstrate violent acts excite spectators, and he aggressive energy can then be transferred to everyday life, pushing an individual to engage in physical activity on the streets. This type of influence is temporary, lasting from several hours to several days. Second, television can portray ordinary daily violence committed by parents or peers (the imposition of penalties for failing to study or for violations of certain rules or norms of conduct). It is impossible to find television shows that do not portray such patterns of violence, because viewer approval of this type of programming has ensured its perpetuation. As a result, children are continually exposed to the use of violence in different situations and the number of violent acts on television appears to be increasing. Third, violence depicted in the media is unreal and has a surrealistic quality; wounds bleed less, and the real pain and agony resulting from violent actions are very rarely shown, so the consequences of violentbehaviour often seem negligible. Over time, television causes a shift in the system of human values and indirectly leads children to view violence as a desirable and even courageous way of re-establishing justice. The American Psychological Association hasreviewed the evidence and has concluded that television violence accounts for about 10 per cent of aggressive behaviour among children. Effects of Juvenile Delinquency according to: 1. Victims y The victim may incur expenses related to lost wages, health care, or psychological care in addition to the cost of replacing damaged or destroyed items.

2. Family The family has to face the ethical issues of responsibility to the victims of the child's crime. Families must usually attend group counseling sessions, which can be disruptive and costly during the time when the child is in detention or on probation. 3. Juvenile Delinquent y The juvenile who commits a crime also suffers effects that he or she is probably unable to predict. He or she may lose his or her freedom while being incarcerated or placed on probation. The juvenile may lose ground academically as well. 4. Community y There is a correlation between juvenile delinquency and drug use, gang involvement, alcohol abuse, and sexual behavior. All of these issues challenge communities by making neighborhoods unsafe and costing large amounts of public money to be spent on law enforcement and school safety. 5. Society y Young people who commit serious crimes before they are 18 years old challenge the future for everyone involved. They may be acting out to protest perceived y

abuses that have been perpetrated against them. They may believe that there is no future for them outside of a life of crime. They may be expressing anger or frustration directed against another person or group or looking for approval from a gang.

Crimes and behaviours of youth: Violent Crimes: y y y y y Assault Theft Vandalism Alcohol Violations Drug abuse

Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency Built family cohesiveness with your parent by taking time each week to have fun. Always tell your parent if you re going out with your friends, tell them your companion and till what time you ll be back. Tell your parents who are your friends and same with their family. Ask for guidance or help when it comes to your academic,emotional, and spirtual problems. Some Preventive strategies according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development: 1. Ahon Bata Sa Lansangan y Provides for an integrated and comprehensive social welfare services to street children rescued from the streets. The centre serves as a processing centre prior to the children s referral to other agencies, if indicated, on return to their families/relatives. 2. Free secondary education y The enactment of Republic Act 6655 or the Free Secondary EducationAct of 1988 provided for free secondary education to youths in national high schools, comprehensivehigh schools, state universities and colleges, specialized schools, trade schools, technical schools,vocational schools, fishery and agricultural schools and other public schools. 3. The Unlad Kabataan (Youth Development) Programme y a programme geared toward the totaldevelopment of the disadvantaged youth in terms of spiritual, economic, physical, psychological,cultural and socialdevelopment. The services included in this programme are available in the socialservice units of the local governments.

4. Education and organization of out-of-school youths y The DSWD organized the out-of-school youths so as to provide them with opportunities to participate in socio-cultural activities, livelihood projects, community activities and training programmes. They are also taught the value of leadership and education. They are often asked to attend seminars on premarital sex, substance abuse, pregnancy and contraception, violence, smoking, drinking, suicide, STDs/HIV/AIDS, abortion andhomosexuality. 5. Family Drug Abuse Programme y is a pilot community-based programme of preparing families toprotect their members against the adverse effects of drug abuse. It further aims to equip familieswith parenting and life skills towards drug-free homes.

Bibliography: Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Control. Los Angeles: Roxbury, 2001, 2005 (2nd edition) American Psychological Association, Violence and youth: psychology s response , summary report of the APA Commission on Violence and Youth (Washington, D.C., 1993). United Nations, World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by General Assembly resolution 50/81 of 14 December 1995. World Youth Report. (2003). Juvenile delinquency. Matherne, M, & Thomas, A. (2001).Family environment as a predictor of adolescent delinquency. Adolescence, 36(144), 655-664.