1. Structural explanations of delinquency address organizational patterns within a society that can lead to delinquency, often focusing on how “material circumstances drive behavior” (Class Notes 2/25/16). In other words, structural explanations of delinquency examine how a society determines access to material needs like food, clothing and shelter, as well as cultural expectations like wealth, community and social status (Class Notes 2/25/16). Providing funding, and therefore equal access, to a top-quality education is an intervention technique rooted in structural explanations of delinquency. On the other hand, cultural explanations of delinquency focus on how the ideas, attitudes and behaviors of people within a society affect crime (Class
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Labeling theory helps explain why requiring juvenile offenders to register as sex offenders is problematic from a criminological standpoint. Juvenile sex offenders differ in motivations from adult offenders and have a low recidivism rate (McNamara 2014: pp. 225-226). In fact, studies have shown “‘nonsexual problems’” to be the most important factor behind serious sex crimes by child offenders” (McNamara 2014: pp. 225-226). Labeling theory holds that juveniles will internalize a negative label, which can lead to a decision to continue their delinquency because they feel they are going to be labeled regardless (Class Notes 2/23/16). Therefore, according to labeling theory, from a criminological standpoint, the stigmatization caused by forcing juvenile sex offenders to register could cause them to continue to engage in criminal behavior and negatively affect their futures by limiting access to resources. Conversely, it suggests that if those records remained sealed and a label wasn’t placed on the child, a reduction in (already low) recidivism rates would …show more content…
As our class readings and discussions have suggested, family plays a large role in child and adolescent development, and therefore, can lead to delinquent behavior in a variety of ways. Studies show that children who grow up in female-headed households have worse outcomes than two-parent families (Class Notes 3/1/16). Children from single-mother families can become involved in delinquent behavior because the mother has to work long hours to make ends meet, leaving kids unsupervised for long amounts of time, and/or because she has to heavily rely on children emotionally or physically (to do an excessive amount of chores for example), causing them to want to leave the house and increasing their likelihood of engaging delinquent behavior (McNamara 2014: p. 173). Families can also affect delinquent behavior in children if other family members are involved in crime. Children learn from their surroundings, and if their surroundings often include delinquent behavior, then will likely learn and normalize it, acting that way themselves (Class Notes 3/3/16). Another example of families contributing to delinquent behavior lies in birth order and family size. The older children, especially in large families, normally receive more of the family’s resources and the parents’ attention, leaving middle children—or each individual child if the family is large—with little attention and discipline, contributing to delinquent tendencies (Class Notes
Labeling theory helps explain why requiring juvenile offenders to register as sex offenders is problematic from a criminological standpoint. Juvenile sex offenders differ in motivations from adult offenders and have a low recidivism rate (McNamara 2014: pp. 225-226). In fact, studies have shown “‘nonsexual problems’” to be the most important factor behind serious sex crimes by child offenders” (McNamara 2014: pp. 225-226). Labeling theory holds that juveniles will internalize a negative label, which can lead to a decision to continue their delinquency because they feel they are going to be labeled regardless (Class Notes 2/23/16). Therefore, according to labeling theory, from a criminological standpoint, the stigmatization caused by forcing juvenile sex offenders to register could cause them to continue to engage in criminal behavior and negatively affect their futures by limiting access to resources. Conversely, it suggests that if those records remained sealed and a label wasn’t placed on the child, a reduction in (already low) recidivism rates would …show more content…
As our class readings and discussions have suggested, family plays a large role in child and adolescent development, and therefore, can lead to delinquent behavior in a variety of ways. Studies show that children who grow up in female-headed households have worse outcomes than two-parent families (Class Notes 3/1/16). Children from single-mother families can become involved in delinquent behavior because the mother has to work long hours to make ends meet, leaving kids unsupervised for long amounts of time, and/or because she has to heavily rely on children emotionally or physically (to do an excessive amount of chores for example), causing them to want to leave the house and increasing their likelihood of engaging delinquent behavior (McNamara 2014: p. 173). Families can also affect delinquent behavior in children if other family members are involved in crime. Children learn from their surroundings, and if their surroundings often include delinquent behavior, then will likely learn and normalize it, acting that way themselves (Class Notes 3/3/16). Another example of families contributing to delinquent behavior lies in birth order and family size. The older children, especially in large families, normally receive more of the family’s resources and the parents’ attention, leaving middle children—or each individual child if the family is large—with little attention and discipline, contributing to delinquent tendencies (Class Notes