Theories of Juvenile Crime, Essay Example

There is no single explanation for crime. Different criminals commit crimes for different reasons, because their backgrounds, genetic and upbringing are all different. One man may kill out of passion, another may be schizophrenic. Yet another may have had an abusive parent. Theories of crime that include only one or a few causes are likely to overlook important factors in one crime or another. Nevertheless, some factors are more likely to cause a juvenile to resort to crime than others. Some theorists have turned to determinism to explain crime. They believe that certain biological or physical factors determine whether or not an individual will commit a crime and that the individual is incapable of changing his fate (Miller, 2008). Yet this is clearly not always the case.

Human beings are rational animals. We make choices every day. Often we choose not to say or do something harmful when we very well could. For a healthy individual, choices are not pre-determined, but dynamic (Paternoster & Pogarsky, 2009). Even those with biological working against them can choose to prevent their natural inclinations. A good example of this is the choice of those with pedophilic tendencies to receive chemical castration. Unfortunately, a great deal of crime occurs when individuals are young.  Because Juveniles do not have the same legal rights or authority as adults do, they are sometimes unable to make preventative decisions such as chemical castration. Meanwhile, hormones and changing physical factors do have a heavy influence over teenage behavior. Determinism, then, might be more useful in explaining Juvenile Crime than it is in explaining crime in later years.

Yet, a truly effective theory ought to integrate aspects of both rational choice and deterministic theories. It ought to consider the great impact of mental and social health on crime and the difficulty individuals who are mentally unhealthy sometimes have in controlling their actions. Yet, it ought not to dismiss the idea of rational choices and the differences they can make.

Works Cited

Miller, J. (2008). Criminology as Social Science. Contemporary and Classic Readings in Criminology , 1-8.

Paternoster, R., & Pogarsky, G. (2009). Rational Choice, Agency and Thoughtfully Reflective Decision Making: The Short and Long-Term Consequences of Making Good Choices. Journal of Quantitative Criminology , 25 (2), 1573-7799.