| Juvenile delinquency refers to juvenile behavior | | | | who are more likely to truant, which is likewise |
| characterized by antisocial conduct that is beyond | | | | related to offending. |
| parental control and is therefore subject to legal | | | | Environmental Factors – The immediate |
| action. However, such behavior or violation of the law | | | | environment where a child grows has a significant |
| is not punishable by death or life imprisonment. | | | | role in influencing the child’s behavior patterns. |
| Extensive research and study have been conducted | | | | Some environmental factors that have been generally |
| to determine the possible causes as well as risk | | | | associated with delinquent behavior include poverty |
| factors that eventually lead to cases of juvenile | | | | or limited economic opportunities, excessive exposure |
| delinquency. A risk factor can be defined as | | | | to violence and criminal acts, and high unemployment |
| scientifically proven reasons that have a strong causal | | | | rate. |
| relationship to a certain problem. An in-depth | | | | Community/Social Factors – Researchers claim |
| understanding of various factors that result in juvenile | | | | that the community has a substantial role to play in |
| delinquency can help parents and society as a whole | | | | child development, including a smooth transition from |
| to come up with solutions to deal with the problem. | | | | adolescence to adulthood. A strong social |
| Some risk factors have been categorized and are | | | | infrastructure help children and teenagers to develop |
| listed below: | | | | the essential social skills, boost self-confidence and |
| Individual/Personal Factors — Individual | | | | enhance decision-making capabilities. In contrast, a |
| psychological or behavioral risk factors that may | | | | disorganized society is a potential risk factor for |
| increase the likelihood of committing criminal offenses | | | | juvenile delinquency. Some community level risk |
| include intelligence, aggression, impulsiveness, anxiety | | | | factors include lack of quality educational and |
| and empathy. Aggressive behavior has also been | | | | recreational opportunities, availability and accessibility |
| noted among children with certain neurological and | | | | of illicit drugs and weapons. |
| cognitive abnormalities. These may manifest as | | | | Family Factors — It is crucial to establish good |
| restlessness, low IQ and verbal ability, poor scholastic | | | | communication between parents and children, |
| performance, constricted problem-solving skills and | | | | adequate parental supervision and guidance in order |
| reasoning abilities, neurophysiological disorders and | | | | to ensure healthy development of a child. However, |
| aberrant functioning of neurotransmitter systems and | | | | there is sufficient evidence which suggests that |
| steroid hormones. | | | | family environment has direct influence on a |
| Children with low intelligence are likely to have poor | | | | child’s state of mind, resulting in juvenile |
| performance in school. This situation may further | | | | delinquency. These include incidences like domestic |
| increase the chances of offending since low | | | | violence, child neglect, child abuse, parental conflict or |
| educational aspirations and low educational attainment | | | | separation, criminal parents or siblings, and ineffective |
| are all risk factors for juvenile delinquency. Moreover, | | | | disciplinary practices of parents. |
| children who perform poorly in school are the ones | | | | |