Effects of Poverty on Trauncy
Truancy may be operationally defined as the habitual engagement in unexcused absences from school (Dalun, Katsiyannis, Barrett, & Willson, 2007). In regards to juvenile delinquency, truancy cases are minor offenses in court, although it can cause major issues in the future. From 1985 to 2000, juveniles ages 15 and younger accounted for 78% of all truancy cases (Puzzanchera et al., 2004). The percentage of truancy offense cases adjudicated was 63%, with the most common disposition being probation (78%) and out-of-home-placement (10%). The majority of nonadjudicated truancy cases (78%) were dismissed (Puzzanchera et al., 2004).
Truancy is linked to a few major factors, such as social economic status, single-parent …show more content…
Strain Theory suggests people are likely to resort to committing crimes when they are unable to achieve the expected goals of society. Social Disorganization Theory suggests that crime is likely to occur when social institutions are not able to direct and control groups of individuals (Hay, Fortson, Hollist, Altheimer, & Schaible, 2007). Among the different types of research that have been done, ethnographic research provides the most consistent evidence linking poverty to delinquency (Jarjoura, Triplett, & Brinker, 2002). An ethnographic study done by Sánchez Jankowiski (1995) looked at some of the motives for delinquent activity among those living in poverty. These motives included people perpetrating crimes, because it was seen as the only opportunity for attaining a higher level of socioeconomic status, or at minimum maintaining their current economic status. For some it was a means of survival. Others living in poverty, especially adolescents, committed crimes to enhance their financial stability in order to have fun; and some committed crimes to receive respect and honor from their community, which becomes a cherished possession in place of the lack of material possessions (Sánchez Jankowski, …show more content…
Some crimes are viewed as more serious than others. For example, status offenses, including curfew violations, running away, disobeying parents, school truancy, and alcohol violations, may be intervened simply by being questioned by a police officer and later returned back to their parents or school facility. On the other hand, more serious offenses, such as assault and battery, vandalism, theft, forcible rape, and manslaughter, are likely to result in the arrest of a delinquent and the involvement in the juvenile court system (Siegel, 2014). In 2011, a total of 1,470,000 juveniles were arrested in the United States for committing a delinquent crime (Puzzanchera,
Truancy may be operationally defined as the habitual engagement in unexcused absences from school (Dalun, Katsiyannis, Barrett, & Willson, 2007). In regards to juvenile delinquency, truancy cases are minor offenses in court, although it can cause major issues in the future. From 1985 to 2000, juveniles ages 15 and younger accounted for 78% of all truancy cases (Puzzanchera et al., 2004). The percentage of truancy offense cases adjudicated was 63%, with the most common disposition being probation (78%) and out-of-home-placement (10%). The majority of nonadjudicated truancy cases (78%) were dismissed (Puzzanchera et al., 2004).
Truancy is linked to a few major factors, such as social economic status, single-parent …show more content…
Strain Theory suggests people are likely to resort to committing crimes when they are unable to achieve the expected goals of society. Social Disorganization Theory suggests that crime is likely to occur when social institutions are not able to direct and control groups of individuals (Hay, Fortson, Hollist, Altheimer, & Schaible, 2007). Among the different types of research that have been done, ethnographic research provides the most consistent evidence linking poverty to delinquency (Jarjoura, Triplett, & Brinker, 2002). An ethnographic study done by Sánchez Jankowiski (1995) looked at some of the motives for delinquent activity among those living in poverty. These motives included people perpetrating crimes, because it was seen as the only opportunity for attaining a higher level of socioeconomic status, or at minimum maintaining their current economic status. For some it was a means of survival. Others living in poverty, especially adolescents, committed crimes to enhance their financial stability in order to have fun; and some committed crimes to receive respect and honor from their community, which becomes a cherished possession in place of the lack of material possessions (Sánchez Jankowski, …show more content…
Some crimes are viewed as more serious than others. For example, status offenses, including curfew violations, running away, disobeying parents, school truancy, and alcohol violations, may be intervened simply by being questioned by a police officer and later returned back to their parents or school facility. On the other hand, more serious offenses, such as assault and battery, vandalism, theft, forcible rape, and manslaughter, are likely to result in the arrest of a delinquent and the involvement in the juvenile court system (Siegel, 2014). In 2011, a total of 1,470,000 juveniles were arrested in the United States for committing a delinquent crime (Puzzanchera,