An intact home, by definition is a two-parent, traditional structure (Mullens, 2004). Any divergence from this, whether it be death, divorce, unwed pregnancy, or from a donor where there are not two parents involved would be considered a broken home (Kersha-Aerga & White-Lewis, 2013). With the evident issue that juvenile delinquency is on the rise, it is wise to look at the family structure of these children and if there is any effect leading to delinquency due to that child’s home-life. “The number of abused and neglected children has special significance for the juvenile justice system because many of these children end up in the system” (Bartollas & Schmalleger, 2014).
Family is the most defining group of people surrounding a child which …show more content…
For instance, a study showed that incarcerated girls claimed that their parents were more rejecting than non-incarcerated girls (source2, p15). In another study done by Stouthamer-Loeber and Loeber, boys tend to lie more in relation to be rejected by their mothers and sometimes fathers (2002). Overlooking this, it is clear that rejection by parents is a major cause of juvenile delinquency in regards to family structure.
In addition to parental behavior and traits, their supervision and disciplining of the children have been cited to explain negligent behavior. John Paul Wright and Francis T. Cullen developed a concept known as parental efficacy in order to evaluate the relationship between parental controls and other forms of support in reducing delinquency among juveniles. After finding and advancing the concept, “they found that parental support and parental control enhance the effects of one another, and that both can significantly reduce children’s innapropriate behaviors” (Bartollas & Schmalleger, …show more content…
In order for this to happen the guardians of these children need to actually be parents and provide structure rather than just provide for them. Living in a broken home with other listed factors makes it unstable for the children and result in poor decision making and a feeling of neglect that may eventually lead them down the road of juvenile delinquency. Overall, family structure plays a significant role in the behavioral status of juveniles throughout their childhood and
Family is the most defining group of people surrounding a child which …show more content…
For instance, a study showed that incarcerated girls claimed that their parents were more rejecting than non-incarcerated girls (source2, p15). In another study done by Stouthamer-Loeber and Loeber, boys tend to lie more in relation to be rejected by their mothers and sometimes fathers (2002). Overlooking this, it is clear that rejection by parents is a major cause of juvenile delinquency in regards to family structure.
In addition to parental behavior and traits, their supervision and disciplining of the children have been cited to explain negligent behavior. John Paul Wright and Francis T. Cullen developed a concept known as parental efficacy in order to evaluate the relationship between parental controls and other forms of support in reducing delinquency among juveniles. After finding and advancing the concept, “they found that parental support and parental control enhance the effects of one another, and that both can significantly reduce children’s innapropriate behaviors” (Bartollas & Schmalleger, …show more content…
In order for this to happen the guardians of these children need to actually be parents and provide structure rather than just provide for them. Living in a broken home with other listed factors makes it unstable for the children and result in poor decision making and a feeling of neglect that may eventually lead them down the road of juvenile delinquency. Overall, family structure plays a significant role in the behavioral status of juveniles throughout their childhood and