NCJ Number
170096
Date Published
1998
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This chapter focuses on those elements of the social system that tend to increase or decrease the level of juvenile violence, especially in the inner cities.
Abstract
The chapter presents information in the following categories: (1) family issues; (2) cultural norms of violence; (3) juvenile violence and drugs; (4) the impact of biological factors on children and delinquency; (5) the impact of fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects on children and delinquency; (6) learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency; (7) mental disorders in juvenile delinquency; (8) community-based interventions versus institutional responses; and (9) juvenile diversion programs, wilderness programs, and aftercare. Large-scale rehabilitation of juvenile offenders cannot be accomplished without major changes in the schools, an economic reawakening of the cities, and a rebirth of family life. The article concludes that society is making progress toward the goals of: identifying serious areas of risk, disseminating information based on solid research in the juvenile justice system, and proposing strategies to reduce the incidence of violent crime in particular and delinquency and status offenses in general. The chapter includes discussion questions based on the information presented. Figure, references