Prevention of crimes committed by juveniles Essay

In the U.S. there are federal programs to prevent youth crime, taking into account regional specificities.
The general provisions of the program of the Federal Government undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the regional programs. Sometimes a number of provisions are mandatory and have tightening character, although nowadays in the U.S. there is a tendency to the independence of federal law and procedures of the cases, except for the minimum number of provisions that are implemented according to the Constitution in the courts of criminal jurisdiction. Each state has greater autonomy in designing and implementing its programs to prevent youth crime. States alone and much greater use of experimental methods to prevent crime. (McCord 2001)
It is necessary to point out the Federal Children’s Bureau, which units, such as National Association for the problems of a criminal conviction, the National Confederation of juvenile judges and the National Confederation of Youth Associations, assist to every State without exception. There are, of course, differences between the Federal program and the program in each state, as well as between rural and unpopulated areas with industrial, densely populated centers and cities in every state. Differences are relative and depend primarily on: the level of resolution of social problems, a variety of services in the state, level of training of staff of social services, and of course, on the welfare state which supports the activities and finances these services. The worst are financed rural areas, small towns and villages, particularly in southern states. (McCord 2001)
As an example it is possible to consider activities of the Police Department in Virginia Beach, which attaches great importance to the problems of juvenile crime prevention and working with children and adolescents. Attention to the education of the younger generation is reflected in the design and implementation of the three special programs. The first is a course designed for elementary school students, which introduces children to the basic tasks of law enforcement bodies, rights and responsibilities of citizens, as well as measures to ensure individual and collective security. The course is designed for students in grades 4 and includes the following main themes: law and crime, security, shelter, shoplifting, vandalism and personal safety. At the end of the course there is a test on the knowledge of the material, and then special certificates are given to all children. The course is designed for six lessons of 45 minutes each, and is read in three weeks (two lessons per week) by specially trained police officers, bound in the form (this is considered an important factor in moral action). The age of children (10 years old)is selected not by chance, as this is the age when children are characterized with extraordinary sensitivity and the desire for independence. The material is chosen exactly for children of that age, as in the educational process are widely used games material and short films. Program developers believe that each person should have from childhood a right understanding of social phenomena, have a favorable attitude towards the police and be able to avoid potentially dangerous situations. It is assumed that students that passed this course in the future will be less likely to become offenders or victims of crimes. (The Virginia Beach Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit)
It is worth mentioning the program of legal education, developed by law enforcement agencies of Florida and accepted in the most public and private schools. The program is designed for students of 7-8 classes, its purpose is to familiarize youths with the existing system of values ​​in society, the basics of criminal law and the responsibilities of citizenship, as well as the formation of an idea of ​​what awaits violators of law. With easy to read question-answer form, the program introduces students to the laws relating to offenses such as looting, begging, vagrancy and violation of rights of possession, vandalism, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of a weapon, theft, beatings, arson, drunkenness, illegal drug use and murder. Individual chapters address the consequences of criminal activity, as well as the need for a society of laws and agencies responsible for supervising their implementation.
Training material is presented in an accessible form in the textbook, the volume of 135 pages, there is also a book for teachers. Great importance is attached to lectures of police members, who are specially invited to the sessions. This not only increases interest in the material under study, but is a strong factor in moral action: students become accustomed to consider policemen as people who care about welfare of people. (National Crime Prevention Council)
The next interesting program is an unusual experiment conducted at police headquarters in Los Angeles – in practice it was tested the effectiveness of programs to prevent delinquency among adolescents with a visit to correctional institutions. The purpose of this program was a psychological impact on teenagers, who were registered at the police for a tendency to delinquency, drug abuse or antisocial behavior.
Very effectively and extensively are used various social services, and in populous cities there is a widespread network of specialized correctional institutions for juveniles (Probation Service). The introduction of innovations in the structure of programs to prevent crimes is important at correctional institutions in California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Wisconsin (four states where the most developed network of specialized services and facilities for young people), as well as in New York and New Jersey. It is in these states there is the most highly developed system of progressive criminal courts and children’s jurisdictions, and a strong tradition among the various social services. It is at the state level and at the level of major cities great attention is paid to the practical implementation of programs to prevent youth crime.
It should be noted the fact that, along with highly developed structure of government and public institutions dealing with young people in these states is very high level of juvenile delinquency, despite the most expensive sophisticated methods for reform. Viable alternative to reduce crime or reduce more serious crimes in the near future for residents of large cities of these states is not expected, as is still preventive methods leave much to be desired.
The crime rate in the Americas region is also due to some differences among populations in different states and provinces, as the most significant factor influencing the causal mechanism crime. (Sherman 1998)
It should be noted the fact that, along with highly developed structure of government and public institutions dealing with young people in these states is very high level of juvenile delinquency, despite the most expensive sophisticated methods for prevention. Tough it can be argued that there are no alternatives to reduce crime in the near future in large cities of these states, as preventive methods still leave much to be desired.
The crime rate is rather high due to some differences among populations in different states and provinces, as the most significant factor influencing the causal mechanism crime. Adoption of certain measures is aimed at combating social disruption in the society, especially in large cities, at a number of complex problems, at expanding the network of social services, and can certainly reduce the crime rate, social conflicts and tensions.