Youth Justice: Critical Analysis of Theories of Young Offending

Running Head: YOUTH JUSTICE
Youth Justice
Name
Institution

YOUTH JUSTICE 2
Youth Justice
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Critical Analysis of Theories of Young Offending.........................................................................3
Strain/Institutional Anomie Theory.............................................................................................4
Social Disorganization Theory.....................................................................................................5
Subculture Theory........................................................................................................................5
Family Influence..........................................................................................................................6
Effectiveness of the Criminal Justice and Aboriginals....................................................................7
Conclusions......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

YOUTH JUSTICE 3
Introduction
For the last three decades, there has been increasing concern regarding criminal acts
committed by young persons. This criminal system has been seen as ineffective since it impacts
the way young individuals perceive the system making them to engage in crime activities
because they view the authorities as not doing anything to assist them tackle life. News accounts
of grave crimes performed by children, as well as adolescents and criminologists’ cautions of an
impending storm of violent juveniles, have promoted the conviction that young persons are
increasingly becoming violent and unmanageable. Many are more concerned about the juvenile
justice system that has been inadequate in addressing crime among young offenders (Bouchard,
Wang & Beauregard, 2012). Young offending or juvenile delinquency has attracted huge
attention from theorists attempting to explain the causes, demographics and the nature of crimes
among young offenders. Some theorists have linked juvenile offending to factors, like race,
poverty, gender, and socioeconomic status. Peer group influence has too offered a huge surface
area for juvenile offending to thrive (Liqun, Ruohui, Ling, & Zhao, 2009)). The paper will
critically examine the theories of young offending to investigate the nature, demographics and
the potential for community/youth protection.
Critical Analysis of Theories of Young Offending
The word young offending or juvenile delinquency has been a debatable issue between
criminologists, sociologists, and psychologists. Many individuals have contrasting plus
concurring views have explained theories on young offending utilizing diverse arguments that
range from classical to contemporary theories. Several philosophers have developed diverse