1. Serious, Chronic and Violent Juvenile Offenders

2. Definitions Chronic juvenile offender: 5 or more separate charges of delinquency Chronic juvenile offender: 5 or more separate charges of delinquency Violent juvenile offender: convicted of a crime against a person and has a prior of a similar offense or murder Violent juvenile offender: convicted of a crime against a person and has a prior of a similar offense or murder

3. Definitions Serious or chronic offenders: Serious or chronic offenders: –Low income families –Rates troublesome by teachers and peers –Poor school performance by age 10 –Adjudicated delinquent by age 13 –Has a sibling convicted of a crime

4. Chronic Juvenile Offenders Two dimensions: Two dimensions: –Frequency of offending –Length of time over which offending persists

5. Risk Factors Juvenile recidivism: Juvenile recidivism: Demographics (low socio-economic) Demographics (low socio-economic) Offense history Offense history Family and social variables Family and social variables Physically and sexually abused Physically and sexually abused Single parents family Single parents family Out of home placements Out of home placements

6. Risk Factors Significant family problems Significant family problems Delinquent peers Delinquent peers Strongest predictors: Strongest predictors: –Age at first commitment –Age at first contact with police –History of nonsevere pathology

7. Risk Factors Not significant predictors Not significant predictors –School attendance –Academic achievement

8. Violent Juvenile Offenders Youth who become violent before age 13 (before puberty) generally commit more crimes Youth who become violent before age 13 (before puberty) generally commit more crimes Often times, youth will stop committing violent crimes as they transition into adulthood (“aging out”) Often times, youth will stop committing violent crimes as they transition into adulthood (“aging out”)

9. Serious Child Delinquents Risk Factors Risk Factors –Individual  Birth complications  Hyperactivity –Family related  Parental substance abuse  Poor childrearing practices

10. Serious Child Delinquents We are seeing more young delinquents between the ages of 7 and 12 We are seeing more young delinquents between the ages of 7 and 12 Although juvenile crime is declining overall, young delinquents are becoming more serious and violent Although juvenile crime is declining overall, young delinquents are becoming more serious and violent

11. Violent Adolescent Females Most girls enter the JJ system as status offenders Most girls enter the JJ system as status offenders Often girls become perpetrators in response to their own victimization, substance abuse, economic conditions and dysfunctional family systems Often girls become perpetrators in response to their own victimization, substance abuse, economic conditions and dysfunctional family systems

12. Predictors of Youth Violence Child abuse Child abuse Difficult home life Difficult home life Exposure to crime (victims or witnesses) Exposure to crime (victims or witnesses) Aggression Aggression Dishonesty Dishonesty Conflict with authority figures Conflict with authority figures

13. Predictors of youth violence Juvenile victims are often involved in delinquency Juvenile victims are often involved in delinquency Early aggressive and disruptive behavior in preschool or elementary Early aggressive and disruptive behavior in preschool or elementary

14. Predictors of youth violence Animal abuse Animal abuse Possible symptom of conduct disorder Possible symptom of conduct disorder

15. Antisocial Personality Disorders Show evidence of conduct disorder before age 15 Show evidence of conduct disorder before age 15 Pattern of irresponsible and anti-social behavior since 15 Pattern of irresponsible and anti-social behavior since 15 Drugs, alcohol, voluntary sexual intercourse unusually early for their peer group Drugs, alcohol, voluntary sexual intercourse unusually early for their peer group

16. Psychopathic/Sociopathic Chronic asocial behavior rooted in sever deficiencies in developing a conscience Chronic asocial behavior rooted in sever deficiencies in developing a conscience Failure to develop feelings of guilt Failure to develop feelings of guilt Can originate with an overly dominant mother Can originate with an overly dominant mother Psychopaths are charming in casual personal contacts Psychopaths are charming in casual personal contacts

17. Psychopaths Psychopaths –Very egocentric –Never see their own responsibility for anything that goes wrong –Normal intelligence –Lack emotional intelligence –Juveniles are viewed as incorrigible

18. Conduct Disorders Anger exploding among teenagers Anger exploding among teenagers Difficulty following rules Difficulty following rules Can’t behave in a socially accepted way Can’t behave in a socially accepted way View as “bad” rather than mentally ill View as “bad” rather than mentally ill

19. Guns and Juveniles 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey –17.4% of students had carried a weapon to school –6% had carried a gun –Many state that they own and carry guns for protection or for committing crimes

20. Guns and Juveniles Boys who own guns are more likely to be involved in delinquent behavior Boys who own guns are more likely to be involved in delinquent behavior This is versus gun owners for sport This is versus gun owners for sport More likely to sell drugs More likely to sell drugs Parental responsibility laws Parental responsibility laws Child Access Prevention laws (hold adults accountable) Child Access Prevention laws (hold adults accountable)

21. Decline in Juvenile Arrests Juvenile crime peaked around 1994/1995 and began to decline. Why? Juvenile crime peaked around 1994/1995 and began to decline. Why? –Strong economy –Changing demographics –Changes in the market for illegal drugs and use of firearms –Expanded imprisonment –Policing innovations –Cultural intolerance for violence

22. School crime Between 1998 and 1999, only 47 deaths at schools related to violence Between 1998 and 1999, only 47 deaths at schools related to violence Students who carry weapons to school has declined from 1993 to 2001. Students who carry weapons to school has declined from 1993 to 2001.

23. School crime Threats Threats Bullying Bullying Extortion Extortion

24. Bullying People dismiss bullying as a rite of passage People dismiss bullying as a rite of passage Some feel it is a cycle that kids go through Some feel it is a cycle that kids go through “intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words or other behaviors” “intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words or other behaviors” –Physical –Verbal –Psychological –sexual

25. bullying Two components: Two components: –Repeated harmful acts –Imbalance of power

26. Bullying 1.6 million children in grades 6 through 10 are bullied at least once a week 1.6 million children in grades 6 through 10 are bullied at least once a week Long last impact Long last impact Leads to anti-social behavior Leads to anti-social behavior Vandalism, shoplifting, skipping or dropping out of school, fighting, use of drugs and alcohol Vandalism, shoplifting, skipping or dropping out of school, fighting, use of drugs and alcohol

27. Bullying Victims Victims –Low self esteem –Depression –Problems can reach into adulthood

28. School shootings Violence is evolutionary Violence is evolutionary Signposts or clues Signposts or clues –Students will talk about or let out clues in the weeks or months before attack –Subtle threats –Boasts –Innuendos –Predictions –Stories, diaries, songs, poems, drawings

29. School Shooting Myths School violence is an epidemic School violence is an epidemic All school shooters are alike All school shooters are alike The school shooter is always a loner The school shooter is always a loner School shootings are exclusively revenge motivated School shootings are exclusively revenge motivated Easy access to weapons is the most significant risk factor Easy access to weapons is the most significant risk factor Unusual behaviors, hobbies or interests are common and are destined for violence Unusual behaviors, hobbies or interests are common and are destined for violence

30. Gang Violence Gang violence is not a new phenomenon Gang violence is not a new phenomenon Gangs often attract who men who enjoy violence Gangs often attract who men who enjoy violence By the late 1990s every state has reported gang activity By the late 1990s every state has reported gang activity

31. Why youth join gangs? Structure Structure Sense of belonging Sense of belonging Nurturing Nurturing Economic opportunity Economic opportunity Excitement Excitement Security, love, acceptance, food, shelter, power, money Security, love, acceptance, food, shelter, power, money

32. Why youth join gangs Family structure Family structure –Don’t get structure and parental attention at home –Want a sense of belonging –A family containing gang members is often of a racial minority and on some form of government assistance –Lack a male figure or if he is present he is a criminal or drug addict