Correlation Between Age And Crime

http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/queensland-by-theme/society/crime-justice/regular-publications/crime-justice-stats-qld/crime-justice-stats-qld-1998-99.shtml
(Click Link For Larger View Of Graph. Figure 1.9 "Age of Sex And Offenders.")

The statistics on this graph indicates juvenile and young adult offender’s crime peaks between the ages of fifteen and nineteen in which their offending rates decline shapely. The statistics also indicate juvenile offenders are arrested disproportionately compared to the general population.

Why do individuals commit less crime as they age? Despite the variables of race, and sex social class, intelligence people commit less crime as they age. What causes the aging-out process of crime? Maturity is a key variable due to the ability to resist a quick fix to their problems. A juvenile may turn to crime as a way to solve problems of adolescence, loneliness, frustration, and fear of peer rejection. As one matures, conventional means of problem solving become available. Life experience helps former delinquents seek nondestructive solutions to their personal problems. Furthermore, maturity correlates with increased levels of responsibility. As juveniles and young adults get older, they take on new responsibilities that are inconsistent with criminality and risky behavior. For example, some people who marry, enlist in the armed services, or enroll in school or vocational training are less likely to pursue criminal activities.

In addition to maturity, what other factors help to explain the decline of crime with age? Personalities can change with age. As one matures, rebellious, and troublesome juveniles may develop increased self-control and be able to resist antisocial behavior. Furthermore, juveniles and young adults become more aware of the risks that accompany crime. They realize crime is too dangerous, physically strenuous, and unrewarding. As adults they are no longer protected by the juvenile justice system, and face harsher punishments in the adult criminal court system that may have negative long lasting effects.

Juveniles Tried In Adult Criminal Court

In the past two years in Ventura County the number of juveniles tried as an adult has increased 170%, from ten in 2006 to twenty seven in 2007. In comparison, from 2002 to 2005 only five juveniles were tried as an adult. Proposition 21 passed in 2000 gives the prosecutor discretion to determine whether juveniles fourteen and older who commit serious crimes will be tried as adults. Despite those opposed of juveniles tried as adult, across the nation the incidence of violent juvenile crime is as low as it has been since the early 1970s.

Transfers to criminal court are intended for the most serious juvenile offenders, but how effective is transferring juvenile offenders to adult court? For example, the transfer may create long-term harm. Transferred juveniles may be stigmatized due to the conviction in the criminal court. Labeling juveniles as adult offenders may seriously impair their future education, employment, and other opportunities. Juveniles convicted in criminal courts are more likely to be incarcerated and receive longer sentences than if they remained in the juvenile court. Furthermore, juveniles incarcerated with adults may become exploited physically and sexually, and develop permanent damaged. In addition, following their release, transferred juveniles have a higher recidivism rate than those kept in juvenile court.



In contrast, there are many juvenile offenders that commit crime and deserve punishment in which rehabilitation programs may not be effective with all juveniles. The transfer of juveniles to adult court is attractive to conservatives due to the get-tough policy, which is currently popular. One may argue the increased use of the transfer can help get violent offenders off the streets and should be mandatory for juveniles committing serious violent crimes. Transfers are reserved for the most serious cases and the most serious juvenile offenders. They are most likely to be transferred to criminal court if they have injured someone with a weapon or if they have a long juvenile court record.

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/feb/17/juveniles-tried-as-adults-up-170-da-cites-gang/

Early Success In School Prevents Drug Use

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6085

Researchers at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research tracked a national sample of 3,000 students from the age’s mid-adolescence to young adult. An interesting fact from the research is the effects of educational setbacks of marijuana or cocaine use were less and not as long lasting as the impact of cigarette use. Overall, the research found adolescents who have not made good adjustments to school are likely to become involved in a variety of problem behaviors such as delinquency, smoking, drinking, and illicit drug use.




The research demonstrates how school success protects against teen and young adult drug use but why is school an important factor? Poor academic performance has been directly linked to delinquent behavior. School failure is a stronger predictor of delinquency than economic class, racial or ethnic background or peer relations variables. In addition, how does school failure affect the student? School experience is a direct cause of delinquent behavior. Students who fail in school become frustrated, angry, and rejected. Believing they will never achieve success through conventional means, they seek out like-minded companions and engage in antisocial behaviors. Educational failure, beginning early, produces negative responses from important people in the student's life.



The article stated, “The beauty of tracking individuals through this crucial period or maturation is that we can see which events come first, thus gain important evidence about what cases what,” In contrast, tracking divides students into groups according to their ability and achievement level in which is a factor to delinquency. Students who are in the lower academic groups carry with them the stain of failure and academic incompetence. Over time may cause these students from having any hope of achieving academic success, in which causes a lack of motivation, failure, and rebellion. All of these factors promote delinquent behavior.