Vulnerable Youth, Not Offenders

Youth violence is an intense form of aggression that includes physical harm, injury, or even death.

Some common examples of youth violence include homicides and gang violence.

Fairly viewed, pretrial detention of a juvenile gives rise to injuries comparable to those associated with the imprisonment of an adult.


~ Justice Thurgood Marshall 

Unfair treatment is condemnable; the children who come back from the juvenile justice system reserve the right to get equal and fair treatment.

Unjust and biased behavior adversely affects a child’s social, psychological, biological, and academic life.

Concern about adolescent violence has remained at a high level in American society and the government. Youth violence is a different problem from other youth crimes because violence causes more harm and gives rise to more dangerous juvenile offenders.

It is a typical reflection seen in our society’s different areas that children are not permitted to vote or marry until a certain age. They get some rights and responsibilities at an early adult age, like getting a driving license. Although, it is acceptable to some extent that they are sufficiently mature to understand their conduct’s aftereffects.

Why, then, when it comes to misconduct, so we suppose a young child can be liable to criminality and can withstand an interrogation?

The sheer reality is the failure to bring about a proportionate approach while dealing with the people of different age groups in the criminal justice system so that nobody will suffer the unjust fallout.

Criminalization and violence unfavorably affect development resulting in irrecoverable harm and damage.

Maltreatment and unfair dealing with the lack of education lead to unemployment, escalation in psychological issues ultimately stressing health services, and anti-social attitudes breaking-up the communities.

The children are not mini-adults. Their ability to understand and predict the consequences does not reach the level until they are 25 years of age.

On any given day, a new story is heard about youth violence, whether it is bullying, street violence, or a school shooting in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), homicide is the third leading cause of death among young people in the U.S. Several community factors are responsible for youth violence, which includes:

  1. reduces economic opportunities
  2. increased level of crimes
  3. social disorganization

An interesting fact is that violent video games give rise to angry thoughts besides increased aggressive behaviors following increased heart rate and blood pressure (Shao, & Wang, 2019). Meanwhile lowering the feelings of empathy and kindness.

Peer coercion plays a critical role in youth violence, for the young are high to engage in violent acts when in a group. The young people who are not active in violence or aggression feel encouraged and empowered in a group. Also, they behave more viciously to maintain their position in a group.

The positive strategies and equitable policies make people more law-abiding and independent members of society that positively contribute to society.

Welfare models should be there rather than punitive policies to seek appropriate guidance and support.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adolescent health.

Shao R, Wang Y. (2019). The relation of violent video games to adolescent aggression: An examination of the moderated mediation effect. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00384

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