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Statistics reveal that the American\'s youths are committing an increasing number of violent crimes.
But are juvenile offenders fully responsible for their actions?
They are children in the progress of developing, with proper guidance and treatment they can be rehabilitated into productive members of society. In contrast to this some people believe that today\'s violent juveniles should be transferred to the adult criminal justice system, in which they would be adequately punished.
Others are against transferring juveniles into adult courts.
Where can you draw the line: Are violent juvenile offenders misguided children or dangerous criminals?
1.) The Juvenile Justice System Should Punish Violent Youths:
Paul Mc Nulty, who was director of policy and communications in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Bush administration, predicts a surge in violent juvenile crime in the first decade of the twenty - first century.
He has the opinion that youths who commit criminal acts should be punished. More violent crime is committed by older teenagers than by any other age group. Teenagers from fatherless home commit more crimes than teenagers from intact families.
Offenders under the age of 21 commit more than one-fourth of all violent crime.
Older teenagers (from 17 to 19) are the most violent of all age groups. While the teenage population in America declined between 1985 to 1995, violent crimes committed by juveniles rose sharply.
A large majority of teenage criminals are from broken and single - parent households, many teenage boys are growing up without fathers as moral guides. And it is not unusual that a family member served some time in prison.
2.) The Juvenile Justice System Should Rehabilitate Violent Youths:
In contrast to Paul Mc Nulty George M. Anderson advocates the community - based programs being developed in a few states, which provide youths with education and therapy designed to prepare them for reentry into their communities. Big institutions make kids worse because they tend to be hostile, abusive and understaffed.
Sure, some teenagers are psychopaths who can't be rehabilitated. But most are still growing and capable of change under the right circumstances.
3.) Violent Juveniles Should Be Tried As Adults:
Joseph Perkins contends that because of the severe nature of the violent crime committed by youths today, the juvenile justice system should be reformed. The court prodeedings of violent juveniles should be open to the public.
Criminal behaviour has consequences. Many young men haven't learned that, either.
We know how dangerous a young man with a gun can be, but many young men today use their bodies as weapons, too. If a boy is old enough to go to war, he is old enough to drink.
If a boy is old enough to rape, he is old enough to serve some time in prison.
More and more kids are wearing firearms and more are involved with drugs.
As it is now, many young offenders are well aware they will receive lenient treatment in juvenile court no matter how loath - some their crime was. They will be far more circumspect if they know that they will be tried and sentenced as an adult if they commit adult crimes.
4.) Violent Juveniles Should Not Be Tried As Adults:
Placing juveniles in the adult criminal justice system puts youths at risk for abuse and fails to reduce crime.
It is estimated that every day 2700 babies are born into poverty, more than 2000 students drop out of school, 250 kids are arrested for violent crimes, and 1700 are abused by their parents.
While schools, jobs and the social safety net continue to erode, more kids are finding themselves caught up in an ever - expanding criminal justice system.
. Unemployment among teens was 19% in 1993, up from 15.3% five years earlier - and for black youths, the figure was twice that high. For those who do find jobs, the average hourly wage has fallen nearly 10% since the mid-1980s.
. In 1992, there were 14.6 million children living below the poverty line, about 5 million more than 1973.
. In 1993, there were 3 million victims of child abuse, a rate 50 percent higher than in 1985. Studies also indicate taht the majority of prisoners were abused as children.
. Teen suicide rates increased nearly 20 percent during the 1980s.
In recent years, most states have made it easier to try juvenile killers as adults. Ignoring the immaturity of a 15- or 16-year old, lawmakers have accepted the idea that murder is an adult crime and thus deserves an adult punishment.
Especially in America, gangs are the foundations of violence and crime.
OVERVIEW OF GANGS:
Today a gang can defined in four basic ways:
* an organized group with a leader
* a unified group that usually remains together during peaceful times as well as times of conflict
* a group whose members show unity through clothing, language, hair...
* a group whose activities are criminal or threatening to the larger society.
Gangs are one of the results of poverty, discrimination and urban deterioration.
Some experts believe that young people, undereducated and without access to good jobs, become frustrated with their lives and join gangs as an alternative to boredom, hoplessness and devastating poverty.
THE 19TH CENTURY GANGS:
It was not until the 19th century that \"criminal\" gangs were first formed. As the result of a worsening economy and growing population that increased competition for jobs, gangs began to specialize in crime and became a part of America\'s cities.
POST CIVIL WAR:
After the Civil War in 1865 New York indicates a large presence of Jewish, Italian, African-American and Irish gangs. With the increase of immigrant populations the gang membership grew.
Chinese gangs appeared in California in 1850, Philadelphia became home to over 100 street gangs in 1870, for example.
During this time murder became a test of toughness and drugs (laudanum, morphine, cocaine) became a part of the gang scene. The level of violence escalated.
It\'s unbelieveable that a gang of Five Points used murder as a membership requirement. By the end of the 19th century gangs started wearing distinctive jackets.
THE 20TH CENTURY GANGS:
In the early 19ths the U.S. economy got worse, the population grew rapidly and the gap between the rich and poor widened. All across the nation gangs appeared where poor, hopless people lived.
The beginning of the 20th century also brought a widespread use of firearms with it.
THE 1920s:
In 1920 there were about 1300 gangs in Chicago and more than 25000 members. Gang warfare in Chicago was widespread and fighting took place along ethnic, cultural and racial lines.
POST WORLD WAR II:
After World War II gang membership:
1.) became younger
2.) fire-arms were used more often
3.) the structure of organization became more rigid
4.) drug dependence grew
5.) and society became concerned with gangs as a social problem and worked toward
rehabilitation
THE 1950s:
During the 1950s gang fighting rose highly in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Cleveland. Gang members were usually in their teens. Codes of dress (black leather jackets were popular) and mannerisms were important means of identification. Body language said a lot about the nature of the gang.When a gang decided to become a fighting gang, its members immedeately took on a different way of walking. Gang members used guns, knives and homemade weapons. Most common drugs were (alcohol), marijuana and heroin.
Usually they fought over girls. Gang members believed it was essential to protect the honour of their girlfriends. And in the late 1950, girl gangs, a bit similar to boy gangs , were formed.
In order to combat the rise of violence, oranizations like the New York City Youth Board sent social workers into the slums to form relationships with the gangs. In some cases it worked; in many it did not.
THE 1960s:
In the 60s gang violence declined, but drug use escalated. Where there was more drug use there was less gang violence. A new racial consciousness had its effect on local street gangs.
GANGS TODAY:
Since the 1980s, as the ghettos become more and more overcrowded, a gang\'s territory has become no more than a single corner or a block. Guns decide arguments quickly and gang wars today are usually fought like guerilla warfare with shooting from roofs and quick shots from speeding cars. Gangs are found in all 50 states and come from many backgrounds. Members are still usually male, between the ages 13 and 24.
REASONS FOR GANG MEMBERSHIP:
Gangs are still largely populated by young people from disenfranchised neighbourhoods. Characteristic features are overcrowding, high unemployment, high drop out rates, lack of social services and a general feeling of hopelessness.
Some experts estimate that more than 80% of gang members are illiterate and find it nearly impossible to get a job.
Young people turn to gangs to earn a living through drug trafficking, illegal weapons sales, robbery and theft. Some young people join gangs to gain the protection and the respect they do not get at home. Or they may join gangs because all their friends are doing it as well, it semms like a natural thing to do. Some experts say that young people from troubled homes attempt to find substitute families in gangs.
GANG STRUCTURE:
Gang structure varies. The largest gangs, some with 2000 members break up into smaller groups called clubs and cliques. Clubs bring more territory to a gang, cliques assemble new gang members and unite them along similar interests (street fighting, burglary).
GANG LEADERSHIP:
Some gangs operate informally, the leadership is falling to whoever takes control. Other gangs have distinct leaders and highly structured gangs have officers. The president might direct the gang\'s business dealings and the vice president might keep members in line, overseeing the gang\'s communication network (including car phones, walkie-talkies, pagers and beepers).
Gang members use these devices to coordinate drug deals and to protect themselves from arrest. The \"warlord\" keeps order at gang meetings, plans fights against rival gangs and controls the gang\'s arsenal.
SOLUTIONS:
Although there are no easy solutions to the gang problem, sociologists and social workers have some ideas:
1.) Create jobs for young people.
2.) Develop community programs in the arts, sports.....
3.) Make sure young people receive a good education.
4.) Create alternate living situations for children who cannot stay at home.
5.) Society as a whole must look at problems of poverty and discrimination.
6.) Young people can do their part by being open to alternative activities.
7.) Against all prejudices young people should appreciate cultural differences.
8.) Provide counseling services for families and young people.
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