Abstract
This paper explains that juvenile delinquency, which is fast becoming one of the largest problems facing urban centers, can lead to lawbreaking, which often can lead to adult lives as career criminals. The author stresses that it is important to understand some of the major risk factors causing juvenile delinquency and then develop potential institutional remedies. The paper uses statistics and general facts to support its conclusions.

From the Paper
"Juvenile delinquency is fast becoming one of the largest problems facing urban centers where concentrations of impoverished youth from broken home situations are commonplace. Many of these young people - predominantly the boys - turn to delinquency and lawbreaking that can oft times lead to adult lives as career criminals. Consequently, it is important to understand some of the major risk factors causing juvenile delinquency and then develop potential institutional remedies. Theories for the causes of juvenile delinquency range from the commonsensical to the ridiculous. Somewhere in the middle are the statistically demonstrated factors that are indicators of whether or not a juvenile will turn to crime. Many types of crimes are associated primarily with the young and are considered "coming of age" crimes. These include drug experimentation, petty theft, and vandalism."

Tags:juvenile, delinquency, programs

Abstract
This paper relates that these two websites promote juvenile delinquency prevention programs based on direct involvement of the community. The author discusses the beliefs of each site. The paper explains various aspects of the programs such as gender bias, whether it appeals to adults or juveniles and the overall effectiveness of the program.

From the Paper
"Preventing juvenile delinquency has become a major concern in the past several decades, with juvenile crime seemingly on the rise and no one seems to have a clear sense of what to do about it. Some immediately blame the dissolution and transformation of the traditional family structure and call for traditional values and community involvement to prevent further delinquency (Hil, 1998). In fact, some studies have indicated that the family can be a causal factor in delinquency. Researchers have found that the general level of cohesiveness among non-traditional families is a good predictor of juvenile delinquency - though that proved not to be the case for traditional families (Matherne and Thomas, 2001). Of course, there's also extensive research that links delinquency and substance abuse (Delinquency linked, 2002)."

Tags:juvenile, delinquency, prevention

Abstract
The paper outlines the history of juvenile diversion programs in the United States, with a specific focus on California's juvenile diversion programs. The paper discusses the benefits and successes of these types of programs, looking at current diversion programs already in place. The paper examines literature that shows the financial advantages of juvenile diversion programs as compared to processing juvenile offenders through the criminal justice system. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations for future studies on juvenile diversion programs.

Outline:
Introduction
Brief Background of Juvenile Delinquency and Attempts at Diversion
Support for Juvenile Diversion Programs
Background of Juvenile Diversion Programs
Pre-charge Diversion Programs
Specific Juvenile Diversion Programs Currently in Use
Brief Overview of the Juvenile Court System
Cost-Comparison of Juvenile Diversion Programs and the Criminal Justice System
Conclusion

From the Paper
"In the past few decades, juvenile delinquency has emerged as a significant criminal and sociological issue, raising concern among parents, educators, policy-makers and government officials alike. Juvenile delinquency has become a major crime issue in the United States; in California the public has been overwhelmed with stories from the media, providing graphic evidence of a crime wave generated by our youth who, according to media reports, prey upon a defenseless public. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention reports that on average, juveniles were involved in one-quarter of serious violent victimization annually over the last 25 years; juvenile offenders were known to be involved in about 1,100 murders in the U.S. in 2003; over 108,700 juveniles were in detention, correctional, or shelter facilities in 1995; and courts with juvenile jurisdiction disposed of more than 1.6 million delinquency cases in 2000."

Tags:delinquency, criminal, justice, system, imprisonment, correctional, strategies, detention

Abstract
The paper examines both a diversion and prevention program for the juvenile delinquent in Phoenix, Arizona, known respectively as Project Scrub and the Juvenile Curfew Program. The paper explains how both programs work and how they succeed in reducing juvenile delinquency. The paper asserts that because the juvenile is developmentally different from the adult, juvenile outreach programs aid in changing their view on crime and making them better functioning members of society.

From the Paper
"The diversion program is designed to divert the juvenile from the juvenile justice process in order to instead give them the tools to change their attitudes and behaviors on crime. The concept of diversion is based on the theory that processing certain youth through the juvenile justice system may do more harm than good (NCJRS, 2010). In other words if the juvenile processed through the juvenile justice system they will be labeled as delinquents which will just cause them to engage in further delinquent behavior. One diversion program offered to juvenile offenders in Phoenix, Arizona is Project Scrub.
'Project Scrub (Stop Crime Remove Urban Blight) is a juvenile diversion program that requires that the juvenile clean up the streets and graffiti painted walls in the more urban parts of the city. The first time or nonviolent juvenile off ender will be sentenced to cleaning up litter and painting over the graffiti on walls. This program consists of the juvenile fulfilling a court ordered amount of community service geared at cleaning up the city. Juvenile offenders will be sentenced from eight to two hundred hours depending on the delinquent act that was committed and the number of previous offenses on their record. While most first time offenders that commit less serious crimes are placed in this diversion program, juveniles that are repeat offenders that involves less serious crimes could also be ordered into this program."

Tags:diversion, prevention, delinquency

Abstract
This paper discusses how literature shows that adolescents who remain in school and are not frequently truant are less likely than their absent and truant peers to become involved with all kinds of criminal activities. It evaluates the theory that programs designed to reduce truancy behaviors will have the added benefit of reducing juvenile crime or at least reducing the risk that certain young people will become delinquent. It examines the most popular causes of truancy and looks at the factors which may well place a juvenile at risk for delinquency such as poverty, dysfunctional or one-parent families, high neighborhood crime rates and a tacit acceptance of certain forms of deviance, increased peer pressure to join gangs and poor academic performance. It evaluates how although school-based responses may not have the capacity to directly change family behaviors and/or attitudes, they can make a difference in the lives of at-risk students.

From the Paper
"How effective are truancy programs in reducing risk of delinquency? In Charleston, South Carolina, Police Department Chief Reuben Greenberg, who came to the City in 1982, has implemented a truancy program that puts four uniformed officers on the street, every day, at the beck and call of school administrators reporting a truant student. The truancy patrol, which also involves juveniles themselves, picks up kids age 6 to 17 and then returns them to school. In its first four years, the program was associated with a 27 percent reduction in local juvenile crime - by keeping kids off the streets, and in school, Greenberg stated, crime rates decreased. Most significantly, juvenile-against-juvenile crime during typical school hours also plummeted. Between 1990 and 1994, not a single school-age student was shot, stabbed, beaten up or killed on a city street (Bennett, et al, 1996)."

Tags:gangs, academic, performance, school, programs

Abstract
This paper discusses delinquency prevention and intervention and proposes a model that addresses both, incorporating several existing programs and looking at delinquency prevention at the family, school and community levels.

From the Paper
"Old stereotypes of delinquent youth portrayed them as inexplicably and irremediably bad, a term that suggested much but explained little. Movies often depicted the youth as coming from a hardworking family with loving parents who could not fathom why their delinquent children turned out as they did. The message in these films was that there was no rhyme or reason for delinquency and so therefore it was difficult to stop. Many such films ended with the delinquent's death, suggesting that death was the..."

Tags:criminal justice, delinquent, delinquency, youth, children, community, school, theory, prevention, intervention, family

Abstract
This paper focuses on the effects of violence in television programming on a youth's tendency for juvenile delinquency and violence. The introductory part of the paper thus examines the violent content in television programming, particularly programming geared towards children. This section discusses how violent content is often embedded in even the most innocuous children's programming. The next part of the paper looks at the ways television contributes to delinquent behavior among teens and children. This paper argues that television contributes to such behavior in three main ways. First, children tend to imitate the behavior they see on television. Second, depictions of violence and crime often desensitize young viewers to the dire consequences of these actions. Finally, such depictions often falsely give teens and children a much bleaker picture of the world around them, contributing to a "nothing to lose" worldview that can contribute to criminal behavior.
In the last section, the paper looks at ways in which media and television have contributed positively to the behavior and values of children and teens. Towards this, the various ways in which media can have positive effects are discussed.

From the Paper
"In its evaluation of almost 10,000 hours of broadcast programming from 1995 to 1997, the National Television Violence Study found that 61 percent of television programs portrayed acts of violence. Most of this violence was glamorized, committed by characters that are otherwise presented as positive role models. While many of the violent acts that would cause serious harm or death in real life, the programs neutralize these lethal effects through the lack of painful effects or through humor (Center for Communication and Social Policy 1998). In addition, less that 20 percent of these programs devote airtime to the long-term effects of violence on the victims, their families, their friends or the community in general. Less than five percent of violent programs feature an anti-violence message. In fact, in more than one-third of these programs, the violent offenders go unpunished (Center for Communication and Social Policy 1998)."

Tags:criminal, television, program, children

Abstract
The paper reviews three levels of juvenile delinquency prevention: the primary level of creating safe environments, the secondary level of addressing those at risk and the tertiary level of bringing youths back from the brink after they have become involved in the juvenile justice system. The paper outlines the available programs at all three levels of prevention and their possible potential for success. The paper also explains the primary causes of juvenile delinquency and possible solutions.

Outline:
Abstract
Part 1 - Delinquency Prevention Theory
Part 2 - Delinquency Prevention Programs

From the Paper
"The comprehensive approach to preventing, correcting and resolving juvenile delinquency is divided into three levels to more specifically address the complex nature of the problem. Each level corresponds to the escalating level of youth's risk of or actual involvement in illegal activities. These increasing levels of intervention are designed to address particular risks factors for the juveniles, with the ultimate goal of keeping the youth out of the criminal justice system.
"The primary prevention level addresses the root causes, conditions and environmental factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency before the youth is part of the problem. The much agreed upon approach is to assist the youth before they are involved in illegal activity. These early intervention programs can range from those that directly address the individual to information programs designed to reach the general public at large. Programs designed to meet the needs of the individual are often school based educational programs, but also can be after-school safe harbor programs. The programs fall into the categories of either educational, recreational or community involvement. The educational programs are designed to provide information for both the youths in the community and the parents. Recreational activities are designed to occupy the hours after school where many youths are unsupervised. The Department of Education reports that youths are most likely to become involved in crime between the hours of 2 pm to 8 pm, with the peak rate at 3 pm ("Juvenile Delinquency Prevention," n.d.). These recreational activities have the additional benefit of creating positive friendships that can be of assistance in later years. The programs may include sports, music, drama, karate, and other such group activities. Community involvement programs include such groups as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church youth groups and other youth volunteer groups. These types of group programs provide a much needed connection for some youths that may feel isolated, and creates ties with the community that also prevents involvement in illegal activity."

Tags:youth, education, at-risk, crime

Abstract
The paper discusses the causes of juvenile delinquency and possible preventive intervention methods such as after school programs, school readiness childcare programs, and early identification and intervention. The paper highlights these programs' positive influence and effects and concludes that it is imperative that policy makers provide the funding for their implementation.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Juvenile Delinquency Recent Statistics
Legal Issues
Causes for Juvenile Crimes
Reducing Juvenile Crimes : Interventions
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Juvenile delinquency is a huge problem worldwide and the US in particular. As per 2002 census, the American juvenile population stood at 25% of the national population and is slated to grow steadily during most part of the 21st century. Today the juvenile justice system serves a rich mixture of racial and ethnic population. There is an increasing ratio of non-white juveniles. In some states such as New Mexico for example; Hispanic juvenile ratio is 51% of the total juvenile population. Other states such as California (45%), Nevada (30%) , Texas (42%), have a high percentage of Hispanic juveniles. Similarly, in Mississippi (45%), Louisiana (40%) , North Carolina (27%), and Delaware (25%) the ratio of black juveniles is significant. In the district of Columbia, black juveniles account for 72% of the entire juvenile population. "

Tags:poverty, family, structure, school, dropout, prisons

Abstract
This paper presents an analytical review of the three levels of juvenile delinquency prevention. The primary level of creating safe environments, secondary level of addressing those at risk, and the tertiary level of bring youths back from the brink after they have become involved in the juvenile justice system. The paper outlines available programs at all three levels of prevention, and the potential for success of the programs is explored. Finally, the problem of Juvenile Delinquency is broken down to the primary two problems, and the potential for solving the problem is reviewed.

From the Paper
"This paper shall review the three levels of juvenile delinquency prevention. The primary level of creating safe environments, secondary level of addressing those at risk, and the tertiary level of bring youths back from the brink after they have become involved in the juvenile justice system. Available programs at all three levels of prevention will be outlined, and the possible potential for success of the programs will be explored. Finally, the problem of Juvenile Delinquency will be broken down to the primary two problems, and the potential for solving the problem will be reviewed."

Tags:youth, crime, recidivism, justice, help