Common Causes of Juvenile Delinquency and Legal Interventions

Florida defines a juvenile delinquent as an individual under 18 who violates the law and is sentenced as a juvenile. The experience of engaging with the legal system can be stressful for anyone, but this is particularly so for a young person who may not fully grasp the severity of their situation.

Because a finding of delinquency can have such a far-reaching impact on a juvenile’s life, the juvenile justice system strives to emphasize rehabilitation over punishment as often as possible. A juvenile delinquency attorney can help your family pursue an outcome for your child that protects their future and gives them an opportunity to change their direction in life.

What Causes Juvenile Delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency results from various factors in young people’s homes, schools, and communities. Some of the circumstances that cause or contribute to juvenile delinquency include:

• Violence or Abuse at Home — Abusive or violent households instill children with a poor model of healthy behavior. Households in which violence is a constant threat or presence can cause young people to act out. This may manifest through property crime, shoplifting, traffic violations, and violence.
• Lack of Parental Guidance — Parents and guardians may fail to provide adequate guidance and supervision for their children and may model poor behaviors, whether criminal or otherwise irresponsible. Children may imitate these behaviors and fail to understand why they shouldn’t.
• Substance Use — Some young people develop substance abuse issues, which can lead them to act out with violence and recklessness. Substance use can have adverse effects on impulse control. Young people may also commit acts of delinquency in order to access these substances.
• Educational Factors — Failure to attend and perform well at school can prevent children from developing the healthy habits that help them remain focused on succeeding in the present and into the future. A low-quality educational environment where accountability is lacking may lead young people to seek fulfillment in delinquent acts.
• Pressure from Peer Groups — Peer pressure gives young people a way to feel like they belong and have some control over their activities. It can lead to involvement with drugs, gang activities, property crime, shoplifting, and more.
• Socioeconomic Factors — Poor communities tend to experience problems with juvenile delinquency because they activate children’s survival instincts. Engaging in delinquent activities doesn’t just give them a way to belong — it helps them feel like they’re successfully making their way through life.

Many cases of juvenile delinquency involve one or more of these factors. While these issues are not easily solved, the juvenile justice system is increasingly recognizing their impact on the lives of young offenders and reconsidering punitive approaches to dealing with delinquency in favor of rehabilitative programs.

What Are Some Effective Approaches to Juvenile Delinquency Intervention?

Florida has some programs in place to help curb juvenile delinquency and offer juvenile offenders a positive path forward. One of these is a probation program that connects young offenders with service providers based on their needs and their perceived risk level. By assessing young people for common risk factors such as those mentioned above, treatment providers can more effectively address issues that increase the likelihood of recidivism.

Other programs target young people who are believed to be at high risk of delinquency based on their patterns of behavior. By identifying juveniles who skip school, run away from home, and engage in other forms of misbehavior, these programs help reduce the incidence of crime and promote public safety while also aiding young people on an individual level.

Contact a Juvenile Delinquency Attorney in Altamonte Springs, Florida, Today

It can be very stressful and concerning for your child to be facing delinquency charges. In this situation, you need the skills, knowledge, and resources that only an experienced juvenile delinquency attorney can provide. AllStarr Legal, P.A. will help you through the juvenile justice system and seek the most favorable outcome possible for your child. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation and learn more about your child’s legal rights.