Child Abuse and Juvenile Crime
Child Abuse and Juvenile Crime
Introduction
Child abuse is a criminal act that can permanently affect the development of a child. Child abuse results to adverse effects to the child. More than half a million children are injured as a result of abuse. The injuries vary from minor bruises to fatal injuries that result to disability and in some instances, death. Other than the immediate consequences, child abuse and neglect has numerous other long term effects. One long term effect is juvenile crime. This paper takes a critical review at the relationship between child abuse and juvenile crime. Researchers have linked increased juvenile delinquency with occurrences of child abuse. Victims of child abuse tend to engage in delinquent and criminal behavior often than children who have not experienced abuse and neglect.
Child Abuse and Neglect.
Child abuse and neglect is a worldwide problem that many children. From birth, children can face abuse till late adolescence. There are four main categories of physical abuse the first is neglect. A child can also be abused physically, emotionally and sexually. Child abuse and neglect is a grievous crime and results to serious physical and emotional effects to the children. Neglect is the persistent refusal to meet a child basic need. A child is 100% dependent on his parents or guardian. The child expects to be fed, clothes and loved. Failure to meet these needs leads to child neglect.
Emotional abuse occurs through name-calling, ridiculing, excessive criticism and humiliation. Emotional abuse affects the child psychologically. Sexual abuse involves an adult using a child to satisfy his sexual fantasies. This can occur through indecent exposure, sexual intercourse or using children to produce pornographic content. Physical abuse is the most common form of child abuse. It involves assault and infliction that places the minor at risk of death or injury (English, & Brandford, 2004).
There are numerous consequences that occur as a result of abuse and neglect. One consequence is behavioral consequences. Children who have been abused and neglected exhibit delinquency from an early age. The child may be violent and engage in school fights. This is because of the anger they have reserved due to child abuse. Most of children who have been abused have poor social skill. They will thus refrain from making friends. In instances where friendships are formed, the child tends to get involved with the wrong crowd (Currie, 2006). This are other children with child abuse history. These groupings occur as the children identify themselves with each other. Having shared a history of abuse and neglect, the children form lasting bonds. Unfortunately, these bonds are based on anger, frustrations and desire for revenge against the parents and society.
According to English & Brandford (2004), children that have suffered abuse are 10 times likely to be arrested for criminal behavior as juveniles. Further studies reveal that, once an adult, the child is 3times likely to be arrested for violent behavior (English, & Brandford, 2004). Abused and neglected children are also likely to engage in drugs and substance abuse as compared to the children who were no abused. Drug and substance abuse means that the children will engage in activities such as cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse and taking illicit drugs. One problem with substance abuse is that an individual loses control. With loss of control, the child is prone to engage in criminal activities.
According to the National bureau of economic research (2012), Child maltreatment i.e., child abuse and neglect, increases the probability of the child engaging in crime. Crime is one of the most costly outcomes of child abuse and neglect. When children engage in criminal behavior early, they increase illegal human capital as they gradually gain experience in criminal activities. The more the victims of child abuse and neglect engage in criminal activities, the less human capital there is in legitimate activities. Overall child abuse and neglect becomes expensive for a society. The society is tasked with the responsibility of correcting the behavior of delinquents. According to the National bureau of economic research (2012), it is cheaper to prevent child abuse and neglect that to manage consequences such as increased delinquent case in society (The National bureau of economic research, 2012).
Relation between Delinquency and Child Abuse.
Children who are victims of child abuse and neglect often engage in criminal delinquent behaviors due to peer influences. Peer influences does not only refer to the friends that the child has but also to parent’s child relationship. If the child does not have a functional relationship with the parents, then he has a higher likelihood of engaging in crime. This is especially if the parents is the initiator of the abuse. Familial relationship also determines delinquent behavior (English, & Brandford, 2004). If the one of the parents is violent or a criminal, there is a likelihood that the child will adopt the same habit. Without parental control, the child has a higher chance of engaging in delinquency.
Most victims of child abuse and neglect have low self esteem. Researchers have discovered a connection between low self esteem and the occurrence of delinquency. Children who have faced abuse and neglect have low self esteem. This is because most believe that they suffer abuse and neglect due to their faults. As a result of low self esteem, the child will seek alternative ways to feel happy about himself. Man naturally strives to engage in behaviors and activities that will boost his self esteem (The National bureau of economic research, 2012). Young people are, however, emotionally vulnerable and will turn to any activity that will boost their self esteem. A victim of child abuse and neglect risks seeking the company of deviant groups to boost his self esteem. This is especially the case in the mainstream groups reject him or are the cause of his abuse.
Theories of Child Abuse Leads and Juvenile Crime.
Many researchers agree that child abuse increases the occurrence of delinquent behavior. However, many are unsure of the reason why this occurs. There are several theories that can explain the relationship between child abuse and juvenile crime. The first is the theory of social learning (SL). SL stipulates that children develop delinquent habits due to the exposure they received when growing up. A child learns through imitation so as to achieve a positive outcome. According to the child, the positive outcome includes; controlling others, acquisition of material wealth etc. The child will thus engage in criminal activities such as burglary to satisfy his needs (English, & Brandford, 2004).
The second theory is the social control theory (SCT) which states that naturally, man has a tendency towards crime and violence. However, he is restrained by social bonds and norms. Unfortunately, child abuse and neglect disrupts these social bonds as it is the guardians that abuse the children. With the social bonds disrupted the child becomes prone to offend and commit crime. The third theory is the social-psychological strain theory (SPST) which explains that children who have been victims of abuse and neglect engage in criminal activities due to stress. Child abuse disrupts normal child development. The child becomes predisposed to engage in risky and destructive behavior (Currie, 2006).
Conclusion.
It is a fact that child abuse and neglects leads to sever long term consequences such as delinquency in children. Children prone to child abuse engage in delinquent and criminal behaviors as a means of revising their self esteem. The victims have low self esteem and blame themselves of suffering abuse. In an effort to regain their self esteem, most of these children are exposed to criminal activities. The upbringing of the child also determines delinquent behavior. A victim of child abuse grows up in a violent environment. The perception he learns is that he has to be violent so as to satisfy his needs. As the child grows, he engages in criminal activities such as robbery to satisfy his material needs. Stress as a result of abuse and neglect can also lead to delinquent behavior. The child becomes predisposed to risky and dangerous behavior. Overall, researches have proved that victims of child abuse engage in criminal activities often than children who have not experienced abuse and neglect.
Reference
Currie, J. (2006). Child abuse and crime. University of Columbia. Retrieved from http://aysps.gsu.edu/publications/2006/downloads/CurrieTekin_ChildAbuse.pdf
English, D. & Brandford, C. (2004). Another look at the effects of child abuse. NIJ Journal. Vol. 251: 23-24
The National bureau of economic research, (2012). Does child Abuse cause crime? Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/digest/jan07/w12171.html
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