WEEK 1 Discussions - Bundy--Discussion Board PDF

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Bundy--Discussion Board...

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Please introduce yourself to your classmates. Please tell us your name, academic goals, and what you hope to learn in this course. Post your introduction by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday and post one response to another student by Sunday at midnight. My name is Olivia Verdecchia, and I’m a sophomore here at UC. I am double majoring in Human Services and Criminal Justice. Honestly, I have no clue what I exactly want to do when I graduate. I think I want to do something related to social work, or something like it. Overall, I know that I want to help kids and teenagers in any way I can, whether that be in the CJ system or within the field of social work. During this course I hope to learn all I can about juveniles because that is the population I want to eventually work with. I also want to learn about the differences between these juveniles and adults and figure out what the major differences are between them while they are in the system.

Please watch the video below and then respond to the discussion question. “Factors that lead to Juvenile Delinquency” http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=egvBwq1FB2g Discussion: What do you think of these factors? In your mind do they lead to juvenile delinquency?

Please post your initial response by Thursday at midnight and post two replies to other students by Monday at midnight.

I feel that the family, environmental, and school factors play a massive role in juvenile delinquency. The family factors include things such as neglect and abuse, broken homes, and maltreatment of the child. In the video, it states that around 20% of abused children become delinquent before reaching adulthood. There are many differences between children who have been maltreated and those who have not; one of these being those who have been maltreated had higher rates of delinquency and violence. The environmental factors include things such as disorganized neighborhoods, limited opportunities, and areas that suffer from high crime. “The Strain theory states that everyone has the same dream, but an unequal opportunity” (Robert Merton). I feel that this is exceptionally true. Children cannot help the places they are born and where they grow up in. Since children cannot help where they come from, they are easily put in situations that may be unfair to them when it comes to chasing their dreams. The school factors are significant, as well. Juveniles are easily influenced by those who are around them, so being

around deviant peers can impact their minds. According to the video, around 80% of juveniles offend with others. All of these factors play significant roles in the lives of each youth. In my mind, all these factors do contribute to juvenile delinquency. I think that it is unfortunate that most parts of each factor are out of the child’s control. A child cannot help the fact that they are maltreated or have grown up in harsh living conditions. Children also cannot control the neighborhoods that they grow up in or the people they attend school with. As unfortunate as this is, I feel that all these factors do have an impact on juvenile delinquency. I also think that each individual is unique in their own ways and has the chance to make the best out of their situation.

References Factors that Lead to Juvenile Delinquency - YouTube. (2009, November 39). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egvBwq1FB2g...