CRI30010 Youth Justice: Analysis of Theories Related to Juvenile Crime

This presentation provides an overview of various theories related to juvenile offending within the context of CRI30010 Youth Justice. It covers Classical/Rational Choice Theory, highlighting the role of individual choice and deterrence, while acknowledging the limited reasoning capacity of juveniles. Positivism, with its focus on biological and psychological traits, is also discussed, including propensity theory and the influence of genetics and social factors on self-control. Sociological theories, such as Hirschi's social control theory, emphasize the impact of societal structures and relationships on criminal behavior. The presentation also addresses Labelling Theory, exploring how labels can shape a youth's identity and involvement in crime, as well as Social Inequality, Conflict, and Structural Explanations, considering the effects of class and gender inequality. References to key research and studies support the theoretical discussions, providing a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of juvenile offending.

Assignment 1B:
Team PowerPoint
Theories of Juvenile Offending
CRI30010: Youth Justice and

Classical/Rational Choice
Theory
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
 Attributes criminal behaviours to individual choice nearly exclusively, arguing
deterrence makes deviant choices irrational (Siegel, 2015).
 Juveniles do not have the same reasoning capacity as adult, this needs to be
recognised when utilising a Classical/Rational Choice Theory lens to study youth
justice and crime (Cunneen, White & Richards, 2015).
 Research shows immaturity, an inability to recognise future consequences, toxic
culture and high rates of punishment in low socioeconomic neighbourhoods affect
youth decision making (Fagan and Piquero 2007) .
 Juvenile decision making and ability to read/respond to social cues are also inhibited in
comparison to adults (Fagan & Wilkinson 1998) .

Positivis
m
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
 Earliest criminological theory, bought about to utilise the scientific method for
criminology. Focused on biological, psychology or biochemical traits with early
iterations believing physical and racial traits could be used to identify criminals
(Cunneen, White & Richards, 2015).
 Propensity theory utilises positivism to argue latent traits, along with social structure
affects an individuals self-control, making them more likely to offend (Siegel, 2015).
 Evidence supports genetics have a causal, not just casual relationship to low self-
control. With social factors having a measurable, but limited effect (Beaver et al.
2008; Wright & Beaver 2005).

Sociological
Theories
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
 These theories argue it is the structures of society as a whole the produces criminal
behaviour. Rather than an individuals traits or rationality (Cunneen, White & Richards,
2015).
 Hirschi's social control theory maintains every individual can commit crime,
although relationship with institutions in society i.e. school, family, work,
community controls their criminality (Siegel, 2015).
 Evidence shows youth who have strong/positive peer and community attachments are
less likely to engage in criminal or deviant behaviours (Garnier & Stein, 2002; Zaff,
Moore, Papillo & Williams, 2003).
 Critics of Hirschi’s social control theory argue that it is deviant and criminal behaviour
which cause poor relationships, flipping the causation (Siegel, 2015). Some evidence
supports this, with adolescent deviant behaviour having a negative effect on parental
relationships (Huh, Tristan, Wade & Stice, 2006; Gault-Sherman, 2011).

Labelling
Theory
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
 Youths enter into offending careers when they are labelled and organise
their
personalities around the labels given (Siegel, 2015).
 In the 1970s/80s, the labelling theory approach was said to be vague
and ambitious by, with research findings being inconsistent with the
theoretical approach (Bernburg and Krohn, 2003).
 Adolescences are highly impressionable and more likely to respond more
than adults to being labelled by the public (Cunneen, White & Richards,
2015).

Social Inequality, Conflict and
Structural Explanations
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
 Within this theoretical perspective, there are both Marxist and Feminist views
on this and they focuses more on the position and opportunities which is
dictated by class and unequal gender of an individual (Cunneen, White &
Richards, 2015).
 Being involved as a perpetrator or victim of crime can have negative effects
on adolescents as they are wanting to be accepted, so they engage in acts
of violence to not be seen as ‘weak’(Pabayo, Molnar and Kawachi, 2014).
 Income inequality Is often associated with a high crime rate and also further
acts of aggression. With higher income earners being victims of crime
(Pabayo, Molnar and Kawachi, 2014)

Reference
s
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
Beaver, K., Eagle Schutt, J., Boutwell, B., Ratchford, M., Roberts, K., & Barnes, J. (2008). Genetic
and Environmental Influences on Levels of Self-Control and Delinquent Peer Affiliation. Criminal
Justice And Behaviour, 36(1), 41-60. doi: 10.1177/0093854808326992
BERNBURG, J. and KROHN, M. (2003). LABELING, LIFE CHANCES, AND ADULT CRIME: THE
DIRECT AND INDIRECT EFFECTS OF OFFICIAL INTERVENTION IN ADOLESCENCE ON CRIME IN EARLY
ADULTHOOD*. Criminology, 41(4), pp.1287-1318.
Cunneen, C., White, R., & Richards, K. (2015). Juvenile Justice: Youth & Crime (5th ed.).
Oxford University Press, Australia and New Zealand.
Fagan, J., & Piquero, A. (2007). Rational Choice and Developmental Influences on
Recidivism Among Adolescent Felony Offenders. Journal Of Empirical Legal Studies, 4(4), 715-
748. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-1461.2007.00105.x
Fagan, J., & Wilkinson, D. (1998). Guns, Youth Violence, and Social Identity in Inner Cities. Crime
And Justice, 24, 105-188. doi: 10.1086/449279

Reference
s
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
Garnier, H., & Stein, J. (2002). An 18-Year Model of Family and Peer Effects on Adolescent Drug
Use and Delinquency. Journal Of Youth And Adolescence, 31(1), 45-56. doi:
10.1023/a:1014085016511
Gault-Sherman, M. (2011). It’s a Two-Way Street: The Bidirectional Relationship Between
Parenting
and Delinquency. Journal Of Youth And Adolescence, 41(2), 121-145. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-
9656-4
Huh, D., Tristan, J., Wade, E., & Stice, E. (2006). Does Problem Behavior Elicit Poor Parenting?.
Journal Of Adolescent Research, 21(2), 185-204. doi: 10.1177/0743558405285462
Pabayo, R., Molnar, B. and Kawachi, I. (2014). The Role of Neighborhood Income
Inequality in Adolescent Aggression and Violence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(4),
pp.571-579.
Siegel, L. J. (2015). Criminology: The core (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning

Reference
s
CRI30010: Youth Justice and
Wright, J., & Beaver, K. (2005). DO PARENTS MATTER IN CREATING SELF-CONTROL IN
THEIR CHILDREN? A GENETICALLY INFORMED TEST OF GOTTFREDSON AND HIRSCHI'S THEORY
OF LOW SELF- CONTROL. Criminology, 43(4), 1169-1202. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-
9125.2005.00036.x
Zaff, J., Moore, K., Papillo, A., & Williams, S. (2003). Implications of Extracurricular Activity
Participation During Adolescence on Positive Outcomes. Journal Of Adolescent Research, 18(6),
599- 630. doi: 10.1177/0743558403254779