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Essay / Youth crime is on the rise
Table of contentsIntroductionYouth gangsParentsWeaponsSubstance abuseConclusionIntroductionAcross the world, the increasing rate of youth crime is the major problem. In recent decades in the United States, there have been reports of growing problems with youth crime in large cities. In the outskirts and city centers, the youth crime rate has also increased for various reasons. Juvenile delinquency in the United States has become an almost daily phenomenon. Recently, it was reported that approximately two million young Americans commit a crime each year. This issue is the subject of intense discussion as to what promotes the increase in crime among young people despite the presence of laws and measures aimed at preventing delinquency among young people. Juvenile delinquency has become a major social development problem, both through its quantitative growth and its increasing qualitative danger. Juvenile delinquency is a characteristic of societies that have reached a particular level of prosperity. The issue of crime is very complex. By all accounts, it is clear that juvenile delinquency is increasing in the United States. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayToday, youth crime is getting worse. A quarter of individuals aged 11 to 16 admit to committing a crime in the past year (Pound, 2018). A growing percentage of young people admit to having engaged in crimes of all kinds, including assault, shoplifting, vandalism, receiving stolen goods, etc. This discovery is a blow to security personnel who fight against juvenile delinquency. According to a survey conducted by the Youth Justice Board (2015), it was found that at least the percentage of young people committing crime in the form of assault, vandalism and handling stolen goods has increased. Most of the young people interviewed confirmed having been victims of cell phone theft. However, many crimes committed by young people go unreported for various reasons. Some young people are afraid to report crime for fear of the police, but even in the absence of unreported criminal cases, youth delinquency continues to rise. In 2017, approximately 50,000 youth aged 17 and younger were reported to be detained in juvenile prisons or other detention facilities in the United States (Pound, 2018). Youth gangs The number of youth gang members has increased. According to a 2015 study by Houston State University, more than 1 million young people have engaged in criminal activity through gang groups. Gang membership has been estimated to range from 5 to 17 years in the United States. This means that groups of young people considered to be deviant youth groups are increasingly present in the United States. Initially, the number of deviant youth groups did not exist in such large numbers in the United States. America until the 21st century because of media violence. Gangs invade the lives of young people through the media. Today, the media plays an important role in the creation of youth gangs, where young people learn things and practice what they see. Media that praises gang behavior increases the likelihood that young people will become interested in crime. Indeed, by looking at media representations of being associated with a gang, some young people discover illegal ways to obtain money. They learn how to execute someone. They learn how a shooting happens, how it happens and how to escape the policewithout getting caught. Recently, a sixteen-year-old from the Midlands was arrested for allegedly shooting two youths, killing a 14-year-old boy on a video game console (Gaither, 2018). The boy, Marquise Cromer, was charged with attempted murder and gun possession. Cromer had prepared to buy some play equipment when a short fight broke out as he attempted to attack the youths. In another case, three teenagers were accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy in Rock Hill, South Carolina (Suskin, 2018). The three young people attempted to steal marijuana from the 15-year-old boy. These cases shed light on how gangs have contributed to high crime in America.Causes: Why young people are involved in crime (gangs)ParentsAccording to the US Department of Justice, high violence among young people has contributed to the increase in crime. Gun violence and gangs have contributed to rising crime in the United States in recent years. Today, most young people lack strong moral guidance from their parents, leading them to commit crimes. Parents are too busy with their work and therefore have little time to talk to their children. Young people are still in the developmental phase and they learn right from wrong by following the examples of adults throughout their lives (Pyrooz & Sweeten. 2015). When parents are not available in their family, young people lack moral guidance, essential for their growth. Additionally, today, parents tend not to recognize what is happening to their children. When their work pressures mount, they unintentionally abuse their children to relieve stress. This has a negative effect on children's lives, especially the way they act on a daily basis. In fact, a young person can suffer from moral poverty, which can follow his character into adulthood. If a child or adolescent is not educated during the formative years to demonstrate moral actions, they may turn to crime because the act does not seem immoral or wrong. American society is marked by parents who are too busy with their work (Pyrooz & Sweeten, 2015). Essentially, teenagers or young people are left under the guidance of the media. Mass media adopts a culture that presents violence as an ordinary act. They are unable to differentiate morally between good and evil. In fact, most young people regularly turn to video games, which are mainly used as a good way to have fun and relax. However, they become addicted to video games. Many video games attract children's attention with violent graphics or even sex scenes. The impacts over time obsess the child to the point of using them sooner or later. So it goes without saying that parents play a vital role in shaping the child's personality. A child may seek attention from peers when parents are not fulfilling their supervisory role. Firearms The increased presence of firearms has played a key role in increasing the number of crimes committed by youth. Every year, at least 20,000 children and youth under the age of 20 are murdered or injured by weapons in America. The ability of firearms to cause death and their availability to youth are the primary reasons why firearms are the second leading cause of death among youth (Pound, 2018). Suicides account for about a third of all youth gun deaths, and accidental shootings account for about 7% of those deaths. Youth residing in urban areas are estimated to be at high risk of firearm homicide.