MEDICINE 
Medicinal Cures

     The nature vs. nurture debate takes on a new identity when dealing directly with treating or rehabilitating juvenile delinquents.  The debate on this issue is between sickness and sin.  Is juvenile delinquency the result of an inborn sickness (nature) or is it the result of bad choices by the parents and child (nurture)?  Those in favor of delinquency being a sickness are looking to science to find a medicinal cure or some genetic link that can be altered to keep the child from ever becoming a delinquent.  This section is a focus on one of the leading physical explanations for delinquency in the sickness circle – ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

     According to the May-June issue of Pediatric Nursing, ADHD has organic, genetic and mental causes.  It is diagnosed when a child meets six or more criteria related to inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity.  The child must show these symptoms before the age of seven and they must persist for six months or more.  These symptoms must also cause problems in two or more settings and significantly interfere with academic performance and/or interpersonal relationships (Savage, 1996).  The criteria used are:
          Hyperactivity, Fidgets and squirms, Does not stay in seat, Runs and climbs excessively, Can’t play quietly, Constantly
          on the go, Talks excessively, Impulsiveness, Talks out of turn, Can’t await turn, Interrupts, Inattentiveness, Does not
          pay attention, Can’t sustain attention, Doesn’t listen in a one-on-one talk, Doesn’t complete work, Has difficulty
          organizing, Avoids mental effort, Loses things necessary for completing tasks, Easily Distracted, Forgetful
          (Savage, 1996).

     ADHD is important in the discussion of juvenile delinquency due to the fact that ADHD may contribute to the severity and persistence of substance abuse disorders and antisocial behaviors (Riggs, et al, 1996).  Fortunately, several drugs for treatment have been developed and are available for those who suffer from ADHD.  The first of the drugs and probably the best known is Ritalin.  The active ingredient in Ritalin is methylphenidate.  This drug fits into the category of a psychostimulant.  The idea behind this is to stimulate the parts of the brain that control self regulation of behavior, impulses and attention (Baren, 1995).  Ritalin has helped many children lead a normal life.  It allows them to be able to concentrate, relax and enjoy life.  Between 60% and 90% of patients have shown improvement while on this drug.  There are some side effects to Ritalin as there are with any drug.  Unfortunately, Ritalin’s effect does not last forever, and as it “wears off” and the patient "comes down," fits of aggression can occur (Baren, 1995).
 
     A second drug that is an alternative to a stimulant is Imipramine HCl.  This drug has shown to help patients who suffer from symptoms of depression as well as those of ADHD.  It also minimizes the “downer” effect of medication since Imipramine HCl produces no sensation of a high.  There are many other drugs that have shown to help those who suffer from ADHD, some more effective than others, and each with its own set of side effects.  The search will continue to find just what causes people to suffer from ADHD and how to treat it.  Research will also continue as to how ADHD and other biological disorders relate to juvenile delinquency, and how this can be directly combated.
 

THE FAMILY
What can parents do?
 
     There are many who believe that “juvenile delinquency” should be referred to as “Juvenile P.  Delinquency” with the “P” standing for “parental.”  The emphasis is not difficult to understand, for it is the relationship between parental failure and child misbehavior.  It is the parents that are intimately identified with the child's initial social status because they are the nucleus of the child's emotional life.

     It should be noted that parents are the victims of unwholesome social circumstances, frequently unable to control demoralizing conditions to which their children are exposed, and never fully able to dominate the child's volitional life.  Yet, while the entire burden of blame should not be placed on the shoulders of the parents, regardless of these conditions, parents should be aware of and accept their vitally important measure of responsibility.

     For parents, there is knowledge of greater importance than self-knowledge.  Parents must begin here because they can not expect to understand their children unless they have sufficient understanding of themselves.  They must be able to face the facts about themselves because it will be difficult to avoid conflicts and frustration in the child.  Parents need to do serious soul searching and ask themselves what kind of value system they have, and is parenthood simply a sideline among values.  If they can truthfully answer this, then they will have hurtled a milestone toward understanding their children's behavior.  Many parents that try to understand themselves will discover that they do not find it easy to communicate their love.  They simply do not know how to express their love toward their children.  Yet this type of communication is vital for the child's happiness and social adjustment.  Discovery of deficiency in this respect should not be the basis of despair.   The art and skills of communication of love can be learned, and individuals with this feeling of inadequacy should be working hard to overcome the obstacle.

     Parent can help guard their children from juvenile delinquency by being reasonable.  Unreasonableness is always an open door to irresponsibility.  Parental unreasonableness, however, probably stems not so much from perverseness as from functioning on the basis of mythology and false premises in dealing with children.

     The task of discipline is handled differently by parents.  There are those parents that believe in no discipline and others who insist of much.  There are several reasonable things that can be done by parents when it comes to disciplining their children:
     a.) Parents' first obligation is to understand the child misbehavior  and accept it without alarm and severity.
     b.) Discipline should be considered as a stepping stone to self-discipline.  It should be administered in a manner that will
          make clear sense as well as adequate to the child.
     c.) The type of discipline should fit the child, not the crime and always be for the child's sake, not the parent's.
     d.) Discipline or punishment without understanding increases the child's conflict and confusion.
     e.) Positive discipline is better than negative discipline.  It is always better to teach the child what is right and what is wrong
          rather than waiting for him to do something wrong.

     Parents can also help their children greatly through demonstrating their faith in the processes of democracy and principles of Christianity.  Freedom, fairness, equality, justice, and compassion are social virtues as essential to the welfare of the young as well as old.  Whenever they are negated or restricted, rebellion is invited; wherever they prevail, social bonds are strengthened.  Love, forgiveness, self-sacrifice, and faith in God foster positive reactions to self and society.  Our children need tangible and concrete values on which to base their faith.  They can understand the love of God the father when they have fathers who love them, or the forgiveness and fairness of God when their own parents are fair as well as forgiving.

     Parents should also strive to make religion a dynamic part of the family.  It is the parents' responsibility to help the child discover religion as something alive and meaningful.  The way to live life is the best indicator of what faith is as well as the reason for living.  The manner of expressing family religion is not only in what the family lives for, but also in the quality of relationships maintained between family members.  If love, understanding and self-giving characterize the family circle, this will lead the family beyond itself into unselfish services to each other and others outside the immediate family.  To help meet the needs of humanity, Christianity will not be difficult for the children to understand or accept.  This positive characteristic will not allow the negative characteristics of delinquency to develop in a child.

     There are some goals that will allow parents to strive for a better family life as well as protect their children from the ravages of juvenile delinquency.  The purpose is to encourage parents and for them not to stand helplessly by and watch while their children are swept away in delinquency.  Parents are human, too, and none of them will likely achieve all their goals for there will be circumstances that will impede their goals.  Sincerity, honesty, and faith will compensate for many limitations, but serious dedication to improvement of parenthood skills will always be rewarding.

     The greatest assurance is that God is always in partnership with parents working with them to help their children become adequate and motivated individuals with a sense of values, if the parents seek this partnership.

     Juvenile delinquency is a serious issue, extremely costly in personal happiness and social resources, and appears to be increasing in incidence and gravity in America society at an alarming rate.  Our children are a precious gift from God.  They are just like an empty vessel ready to be filled by their parents.  Parents in a changing world must be ready, willing and able to prevent this problem from invading their families, but also be prepared to share their knowledge with other parents struggling to save their children. 
 

THE CHURCH
What can the churches do?

     In our communities there are several other organizations that have a strong influence in maintaining a stable social relationship.  Churches in our communities are making a major contribution toward counteracting delinquency.  They have and will continue to be a major source of contribution to the general social welfare.

     Nevertheless juvenile delinquency constitutes a challenge to the churches of the present day.  Re-evaluation of their functions is necessary.  Though it stems from several conditions over which churches have no control, human values involved are intimately related to the church's primary reason for existence.   The church plays a significant role in deterring children and youth delinquency.

     Churches must conduct sincere evaluation of their relationship to the problem of delinquency.  They can do this by: (a) Christian education, youth programs, interpretation of moral standards and social work, they have been making valuable contributions which must not be underestimated; (b) churches need to direct their programs and resources more specifically on the problem of delinquency and improve their functioning on behalf of those children expose to delinquency risks; (c) churches can be a powerful force, both in community life as well as with individuals, for the prevention of delinquency;  (d) Churches must acknowledge that they cannot do it all and must co-operate with other community agencies to work together to prevent and find a solution to this problem.

     Needless to say, churches have assets for the accomplishment of this task.  They have been commissioned to be instruments of redemption and to hold the worth of the people above all other values.  They share the good news that God loves and seeks to save every individual, no matter how little, guilty, or unimportant the world perceives them to be.  They have fellowship that can embrace and support the neglected and unloved.  Along with the primary concern for people, they have organization, prestige, buildings, programs, skills, staff, and other resources with which to exert influence on community life.

     In its approach to delinquents the church should rely on intelligent understanding rather than exhortation and direct appeal.  The individual may not have the capability to receive or make adequate response to exhortation until he/she first has been given help in his/her fundamental problems that lie behind his/her delinquent behavior.  The church must have a complete understanding of his/her problem as well as how they affect his/her personality and behavior.  Does not love always seek to understand?  The church that welcomes all of God's children into the fellowship and support, and the church that strengthens them when they are weak or stumble will be doing much to turn their feet away from the path of delinquency.

     Churches have a great opportunity to help reduce delinquency through programs and services that they can offer directly to the children and youth.  No church can do everything that needs to be done for youth's sake, but they should seek to do the most needful things and do them well.  The most important thing is to give the youth adequate spiritual guidance.   They need a sense of values and assurance that life and the universe make sense.   The church should see this task of spiritual guidance as a primary responsibility and ought not to let anything else take precedence over it.  Outreach efforts should stem from genuine as well as unselfish concern for the welfare of the young life.

     Churches can strengthen and improve family life in the direction of delinquency prevention as well as child conservation.  It is imperative that they give more attention to the problems and needs of family.  The greatest needs of families are educational insight into their problems as well as responsibilities.  Churches can provide classes, discussions and other types of programs for youth groups and parent-child relations.  They also help families to be strengthened in unity and companionship; the church can assist through meaningful experiences of family fellowship.  This can be accomplished by planning church activities that are family centered such as family camps.  Finally, churches can prepare families for crises and can support them with sustaining fellowship when the need arises.

     Churches are deeply involved in the problem of juvenile delinquency, even though it is not their intention, because they cannot escape the challenges before them.  Many are making a strong impact on the lives of young people, assisting them to be desirable citizens despite negative social conditions.  They must also see the great opportunities and resources for helping to guide today's children and youth through the moral wilderness, social chaos and physical dangers in which so many are lost.

 

     There is no doubt that juvenile delinquency is an incredible problem in the United States.   In 1956, “1, 450,000 juveniles were arrested or ‘picked up’ by the police in 1956" (Solomon 1957).  At that time there were only 230 juvenile correction institutions in the United States.   Now, over 30 years later, as the juvenile delinquency rate in the United States continues to rise, action must be taken.  As a nation, we must do all that we can to combat criminal behavior, especially in our youth!

     Although we may mean well, our families, public school systems, and private organizations are unfortunately not always trained and equipped for hand-to-hand combat against juvenile delinquency, so to speak.  It is here that the governmental agencies and programs come into play.  Case workers, police officers, and juvenile detention officers are the “foot soldiers” in this battle to save our nation.  Their enemy is not the child, but the adverse behaviors that the child has succumb to.

     One approach used by the United States governmental agencies to combat juvenile delinquency, as clearly outlined in a book produced by the United States Department of Justice, called Re-educating Confined Delinquents, is the process of re-education.  Re-education is not necessarily accomplished by the influx of more head knowledge, but instead by training the child, or in some cases, re-training the child to confront and solve the problems of everyday life.

     When using this method within the juvenile correction institution, case workers must first gain a trust and friendship with the confined child.  This is accomplished in several ways.  Meeting the child's basic needs is sometimes the fastest way to gain trust, and food is often the main instrument used.  Many juvenile delinquents are hungry, and hunger pains can make even the most peaceful of children cranky and defensive.  As the caseworker feeds their hungering stomachs, one of the many internal noises is silenced in the child.  This can give the caseworker a new opportunity to communicate with the child and build trust.

      At other times, laughter is used to break the ice.  Laughter is universal, and although it may initially be difficult to break through hardened exterior of the angry child, once laughter erupts, trust is quickly gained, and a new friendship can begin.  Building the child's self worth is another method used to gain a personal relationship.  Teaching the child a skill, uncovering a hidden talent, and/or simply affirming the child of his value are ways to accomplish this.

     Once trust is finally gained, the caseworker spends her time training these children to react differently to life situations than they ever have before.  This is quite possibly the most difficult task of re-education.  Most of these delinquents have learned how to manipulate their environment at an extremely early age.  These deceitful actions must be discarded before the child can learn healthy reactions to life.

     The ways that these children relate to themselves and to others is a major concern of the caseworker.  The child must be taught to see value in himself and in others.  If the caseworker is to be successful, she must also teach important observing skills that have not been learned, how to express themselves in a more positive manner, and how to be cooperative in a group situation.

     These caseworkers have an enormous amount of work ahead of them with each individual child.  One such caseworker, Rebecca Clowers, stated that,   "Some of the really great caseworkers are so often too overloaded to effectively make an impact on all the juveniles that are assigned to them."  This is confirmed by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in an article from the Internet when it states, “The increased volume and changing composition of juvenile delinquency caseloads have overloaded the system.”

     The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is very busy combating juvenile delinquency by adopting the following objective:  (To) Provide immediate intervention and appropriate sanctions and treatment for delinquent juveniles.  In plain English, this means that juveniles need to be quickly transported through the system of red tape, and placed in a facility capable of effectively caring for their needs as delinquents.  It is imperative that this is completed in a timely manner so that rehabilitation, if possible, can begin.  Community Intervention Centers (CIC) is one way that this is happening.  These centers are the "go-between" in the middle of the police and the juvenile's parents.  For a detailed step-by-step process of how this works and what happens to a juvenile when he/she is arrested, please click  here . 

      The child must receive treatment and a simple referral is not treatment.  It is imperative that these juveniles not slip through the cracks in the system.  They must be given the chance to rehabilitate completely and adequately by the United States governmental agencies that are available to them.

     But the term re-education and the objective of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention applies to those who have already been adjudicated (a judgment has already been made against them) in the juvenile courts.  What is the government doing to prevent delinquency?

     Although it may be an extremely controversial means of deterrence, now children at the age of 13, 14, or 15 may be tried as an adult in all 50 states under certain circumstances.  The strict enforcement of this law is in some cases a deterrent for a child to commit serious and violent felonies.  This law has not always been in effect.  In 1979, a boy named Willie Bosket brutally shot and killed two people when he was only fifteen years old.  He was reported to have “boasted that he could have killed 100 people and would still have been incarcerated only until he reached the age of twenty-one” (Ewing 1990).  This was in fact a true statement because at that time the state of New York could only incarcerate its juvenile offenders for a period of no more than five years. It was because of this statement that the state of New York enacted the “Willie Bosket Law.”  This law provided that 13, 14, and 15 year old juvenile offenders charged with violent felonies may be tried as adults in the criminal court system.  This decision is the key factor in the second objective of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and that is  (To) Prosecute certain serious, violent and chronic offenders in criminal court.

     Also, because in past years it was important to keep juvenile records confidential, it is hard to survey just how many juvenile offenders grow up to be adult offenders.  This trend is changing.  Files and juvenile records are becoming less protected and are more readily available.

     While the U.S. Government is fighting this war against juvenile delinquency, it still needs more soldiers.  Without people who truly care for the next generation the government can do nothing.  We want YOU! 
 

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