Social Factors of Juvenile Delinquency
There are many social factors that can contribute to juvenile delinquency. One that has risen to the forefront has been the role the family plays in delinquency. It has become increasingly obvious that a child's family can have a significant impact on the child's level of deviance (Matherne &Thomas, 2001). In fact, research has shown that children with strong parental ties are less likely than their peers without these ties to become delinquent. However, this is only the beginning. Parents obviously play the largest role in a child's development. Naturally, the more time parents can spend with their children, the more of a positive influence the parents can have. One study has shown that children who lack parental supervision after school hours run a higher risk of engaging in delinquent acts. Above all of these, the best indicator seems to be family type and status (Matherne &Thomas, 2001). Status refers to the makeup of the family. Children that come from single parent home are significantly more likely to become delinquent. It has also been found that communication, cohesiveness, and adaptability within the family can also impact delinquency. These fall under they family type category. Unquestionably, the family can play a huge role either positive or negative on the delinquency of their children. There are a few strategies that can be adopted to ensure that the family is a positive influence on a child so that their risk of delinquency is reduced. It obviously starts with the family itself. Parents must be willing to engage in all aspects of their children's lives. Parental supervision, effective communication, and simple closeness can all help to reduce a juvenile's chance at becoming delinquent. Parents must work to see that these issues are addressed. Community and law enforcement can also take up the mantel when a parent needs additional help. After school programs for children of working parents, community policing, and simple neighborhood watches can