convicts. Everything was structured in this juvenile detention center, unlike others
throughout the country. I asked Captain White what was the youngest and the most dangerous child that she had worked with in her five years of experience. Captain White said that the youngest she had worked with was ten years old and that the most dangerous was a sixteen year old, who had committed murder. This kid had murdered his own father, while he was sleeping. This young boy was the most respected among the other kids, because he had committed the worse crime. In her research she observed that seventy- five percent of the juvenile detention center were males and the other twenty- five percent were females. The kids that she had worked with were kids like other children, with the exception of the dysfunctional family. The children had lack of parental support, the parents were never criminals, they just failed at giving their children attention and that added love and affection.
In conclusion, I would agree there are many causes of juvenile delinquency, however, the
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most important cause and one that needs to be addressed and corrected is the breakdown of families. Parents who care responsibly for their children will help them avoid the other causes of juvenile delinquency. Children both young and old, have the right to expect strong family morals and values. Children have the right to have their parents show a sincere interest in both their school work and their activities away from school. They have a right for parents to sit at the dinner table and ask about their day. They have the right for respect and they also have a right to effective parenting. If the parents that are in today’s society would restrict their kids access to media violence, monitor their peer groups, explain and inform them of the negative effects of school and gang violence, prevent their access to firearms, provide them with a stable family and discipline them with love and consistency, the basic values of life would come naturally and reduce the number of children involved with delinquency.
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