essay on youth and crime

Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World Essay

Introduction, causes of youth crime, consequences of youth crime, preventive measures to be taken in regard to youth crime, works cited, annotated bibliography.

Youth crime has become a major issue of concern worldwide because most youths have been indulging in crimes at very high rates. This has raised the need to take some steps in an effort to either minimize or avoid the involvement of youths in criminal activities. Youth crime also referred to as juvenile delinquency entails some abnormality in the youths’ behaviour in regard to societal or even legal expectations.

There are many factors that are considered to facilitate indulgence in crime by the youths for instance poor up bringing, poverty and unemployment, lack of education and peer pressure among others. This research paper will look into the various aspects that are associated with youth crime for example the causes, the delinquent behaviours involved, and the preventive measures undertaken to handle the delinquencies.

There is no distinct factor that can be pin pointed as the root cause of youth crime. This is because youths engage in criminal activities as a result of the different situations that they face in life. The situations could be as a result of either social, economic, cultural or even family problems.

Different economic, social and cultural conditions in different countries causes the difference in the causes although some common causes can be drawn since all hail from family relationships, the social environment and the economic situation surrounding the youths.

The relationships that exist in the families of the youths could facilitate the indulgence in criminal activities for example when the parents are involved in crime, when there is poor parental guidance and supervision, in case of neglect and isolation or harsh treatment by parents hence the development of defiant behaviour, where there exist family conflicts and the youths feel overburdened, ineffective or lack of communication between the parents and the children hence lack of forum for discussing the problems that the youths could be having, disrespect and irresponsible behaviour among family members that may make the youths take it as a normality, family break-ups and violence among others.

An economic condition on the other hand entails aspects like the political situations surrounding the youths, poverty and unemployment among other aspects (Western, Lynch and Oquilvie 45). The political situation in a nation may also lead to indulgence in crime by the youths for example in instances where there is political instability, the youths may tend to look for means through which to secure a better future hence engaging in criminal activities in search of a livelihood.

Lack of employment opportunities for the youths is also a major contributing factor towards delinquency. Some of the youths have got education but lack employment chances making them hopeless and susceptible to anything that may come their way, crime being one of them as they try to survive and establish a source of living.

Poverty and inequality also contributes to criminal activities. This is because no one is ready to accept living in poor conditions especially where others have better living conditions. As the youths tend to move away from the poverty situations they find themselves engaging in criminal ventures in an effort to make life favourable and comfortable.

The social conditions that may facilitate the indulgence in criminal activities by the youths include inequalities in terms of services provision and power sharing, poor or lack of leadership in the societies hence loss of focus among the youths, discrimination among the youths, peer pressure and influence of the media for instance where the media portrays violence and crime to be prestigious making the youths to emulate people involved in crime among others. It is therefore evident that to prevent crime, the above named causes should be dealt with from the roots (McCord et al 25).

There are numerous consequences that are associated with youth crime. The crimes affect not only those undertaking it but also the society at large. This is because of the uncertainty linked with the criminal activities which leads to tension and anxiety among the society members as they don’t know what may happen to them.

The crime may also be dangerous to the youths themselves for instance the abuse of drugs and other substances may lead to deterioration of their health, they may also be physically injured in the event of perpetrating the criminal activities and more so, they may get themselves behind bars facing legal sentences once they are convicted for the crimes committed hence suffering from lack of freedom and harsh treatment (Elliot, Huizinga, and Menard 29).

Since the problem of youth crime is real and in existence, there is need to establish some measures aimed at reducing or avoiding the chances of engaging in crimes by the youths. A good approach is however the identification of the root causes of the crimes and dealing with them appropriately.

The measures include reduction of inequality and poverty levels among communities. This could be achieved through aspects like effective taxation that ensures that the well-up people are able to support the less fortunate through the taxes hence reducing the inequality. Poverty can also be reduced through provision of employment opportunities and increasing the minimum earnings.

This will in the long run reduce the chances of the youths’ indulgence in crime as they will be involved in more productive activities in the economy. Reduction of the availability of drugs and other substances is also a recommended step as it reduces the number of youths who can access them hence avoiding their abuse (Blyth and Solomon 2).

Another effective method that could be applied is the youth awareness programmes for instance on the importance of education and general positive living. Education should also be made affordable to the majority including the poor as education enhances an individual’s well being in terms of decision making and making choices as well as increasing the possibilities of securing job opportunities hence have a stable source of earning.

There should also be efforts to reinforce the law enforcement strategies with an aim of reducing chances of crime as the youths caught committing crimes are sentenced hence serving as examples to the others who may think of indulging in crime. Corruption is a contributing force towards crime execution of since the offenders feel free to commit the crimes without minding the consequences as they know they can bribe the law enforcers and get away with it.

Reduction of the corruption will in return result to reduction of crime rates as the youths will be held responsible for their criminal activities and hence they will tend to avoid it. These preventive measures among others will help reduce crime rates through dealing with the root causes of the crimes (Muhammad 9).

It is evident that youth crime is a problem in most countries as young people are increasingly getting involved in criminal activities. The problem however lies in the establishment of the main causes of crime youth but once this is clear, the problem can be dealt with appropriately through prevention of its crimes rather than waiting for its occurrence and intervening since this is much more tasking and entails aspects like rehabilitation which can be avoided through prevention.

Blyth, Maggie and Solomon, Enver. Prevention and Youth Crime: Is Early Intervention Working? United Kingdom: The Policy Press, 2009.

Elliot, S. Delbert, Huizinga, David and Menard, Scott. Multiple Problem Youth: Delinquency, Substance Use and Mental Health Problems. Springer: New York, 2009.

McCord, Joan et al. Juvenile Crime, Juvenile Justice . USA: National Academies Press, 2001.

Muhammad, Ali. “ Youth Crime: Causes and Remedies ”. Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA), Paper No. 17223, 2008. Web.

Western, Stuart John, Lynch, Mark and Oquilvie, Emma. Understanding Youth Crime: An Australian Study . USA: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2003.

The following are the additional sources to be included in the annotated bibliography.

This book is very essential in this study as it gives an insight to the prevention of youth crime. It specifically touches on the importance of prevention rather than cure in regard to any given problem and in this case the authors give the benefits accrued to the prevention process as opposed to the cure. It focuses on the need for early intervention programmes that should be put in place in an effort to preventing the young children and the youths from engaging in criminal activities.

It is a book that incorporates contributions from various experts in their effort to examine critically the government policy in relation to early intervention programmes, which are directed towards supporting families and preventing young children and youths from being involved in crime. It generally looks into the effectiveness of early intervention as a measure towards preventing youth crime.

This book has combined efforts of different authors to bring about an understanding of why the young people decide to turn into delinquent acts. The book specifically looks into the patterns of crimes undertaken by children and youth offenders. It gives a detailed insight into the contributing factors for instance parental care, peer pressure and how the society influences this.

Apart from the reasons for indulgence of the youths in crime, the book highlights some of the solutions to youth crime for instance the interventions to be implemented in the juvenile justice system, the part played by law enforcers and other preventive measures.

Muhammad, Ali. “Youth Crime: Causes and Remedies”. Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA) , Paper No. 17223, 2008. Web.

This is a very informative research paper as it covers a wide range of aspects in regard to the topic of study, Youth Crime. It gives in depth details in relation to the factors that may facilitate the youths’ indulgence to various criminal activities and the consequences associated with the involvement of the youths in criminal activities including those faced by the offenders themselves and the society at large.

Apart from the causes and effects of youth crime, the author recognizes the fact that the ordeal of crime is in existence and more so it is in the rise and therefore outlines in details the appropriate measures that should be adhered to in an effort to preventing and avoiding the engagement of the youths in criminal activities emphasizing that dealing with the root causes is very crucial in preventing youth crime.

Scott, S. Elizabeth and Steinberg, Laurence. Adolescent Development and the Regulation of Youth Crime. The Future of children, volume 18, Number 2, fall 2008, pp. 15 – 33.

This journal article explores the changes that have taken place in the conception of the law over the past years. The authors shows of how the youth offenders were initially treated, the same way as adults, which is not right as the youths are quite different from the adults for instance in terms of the offences they commit and the punishment they can stand.

The laws to be adopted for instance emphasizes on the application of aspects like rehabilitation as corrective measures as opposed to punishment which is employed in case of the adult offenders. It calls for attention to the application of the juvenile justice system to the delinquents as opposed to subjections to the adult courts.

Western, Stuart John, Lynch, Mark and Oquilvie, Emma. Understanding Youth Crime: An Australian Study. USA: Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2003.

The authors in this book give some good and educative information that can assist us in understanding the general overview of the aspect of youth crime. Although the case study is in the Australian population, it gives the idea of the relationship between the youths and crime. According to this book, the youths are in their transitional process from childhood to adulthood and they are susceptible to numerous troubles including criminal activities.

The book focuses on an Australian study that was carried out to determine the major social factors that are deemed to have some impacts on the general lives of young people. The study was conducted on 1,300 youths which is a total representative sample and from this a general overview is drawn which enriches our understanding of youth criminality.

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-crime/

"Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/youth-crime/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World'. 31 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-crime/.

1. IvyPanda . "Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-crime/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Youth Crime as a Major Issue in the World." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/youth-crime/.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Violent Crime — Youth Crime is on the Rise

Youth Crime is on The Rise

• Categories: Violent Crime Youth Violence

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Published: Jun 5, 2019

Words: 1794 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, youth gangs, substance abuse.

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Why young people commit crime and how moral education could help – new research

Senior lecturer in Criminology, Anglia Ruskin University

Disclosure statement

Dr Neema Trivedi-Bateman received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to carry out this work.

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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There is a significant link between moral emotions and offending behaviour in young people. Moral emotions are learnt – and more attention needs to be given to the teaching of morals in childhood to address this link between morality and crime.

My research has proved that young people are more likely to carry out violent acts if they have weak empathy, shame and guilt, and if they do not feel violence is wrong. On the surface, this may seem obvious, but the research provides a new, evidence-based clarity about the decisions that lead to crime. It was previously thought that other personal factors – such as lack of self-control or social disadvantage – or external factors like the opportunity to commit crime were at the root of why crime occurs.

Having poor morals doesn’t mean that a young person is inherently bad. Morality is learnt in childhood. It is the people that we spend time with that teach us morals . It follows that if someone’s moral development is insufficient, they shouldn’t be immediately labelled as “bad” but that they have had inadequate or misguided teaching from the important people in their life.

Moral development programmes should be developed and taught to children to reduce the likelihood of them growing up to believe that criminal behaviour could be seen as morally acceptable. Moral education should be considered to be as crucial as nutrition, health, and formal education for our future generations to thrive.

Moral emotions

I carried out in-depth interviews with 50 young and prolific violent offenders, looking at the role of moral emotions in the decision to commit violence. I asked them about their most recent act of violence. In some cases, this had occurred the day before the interview itself.

My findings provided evidence that empathy, shame and guilt were lacking. For example, when asked “did you feel ashamed or guilty when others found out?” one person responded that “there’s not much guilt involved in the whole situation to be honest”.

My findings are backed up by the results of a groundbreaking study carried out at the University of Cambridge. I worked with the study team for eight years and led the research team during some of the interview phases.

The Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development study (PADS+) tracked the lives of a large, representative sample of young people for ten years, a unique and thorough approach to discovering how and why we behave in certain ways.

Around 4% of the study sample – roughly only 35 young people – were responsible for almost half of all total crimes reported by approximately 700 people across a ten-year period from the age of 12 until they reached 22.

This small handful of individuals reported weak moral emotions: empathy, shame and guilt. We found that the individuals who reported the weakest moral emotions admitted to involvement in, on average, 71 crimes. By contrast, those reporting the strongest sense of moral emotion only admitted involvement in one crime.

Peer influence

Young people tend to spend most of their time with parents or primary caregivers, teachers and their peer groups. If a child’s peers or parents don’t think it’s wrong to commit a crime, or lack empathy or guilty feelings towards the people affected by that crime, then this a likely to affect how the young person feels as well. Research shows that lack of guilt for rule-breaking behaviour can be displayed from as young as three .

It is very likely that the primary and critical time windows for morality development begin in early childhood, and extend to later childhood and adolescence. It appears that major life events – such as having stable relationships with family members or a partner, or a job, or having a child – can reinforce one’s moral code and reduce the likelihood of offending behaviour.

This partially explains the dip in the age-crime curve , which is a general and widely reported trend: young people peak in terms of offending in middle to late adolescence and reduce offending substantially by their early twenties.

Moral education

Research shows that spending time with people who provide examples of strong morals can lead to law-abiding behaviour. If a child does not successfully experience early bonding experiences and develop moral and emotional commitments to others, the development of empathy may be prevented or blocked .

Students absorb positive moral behaviours when surrounded with just and fair role models, rules, and interactions . Schools that foster a sense of community and hold discussions about morality can provide this environment. But if environments that foster moral development are not prolonged and sustained across several years, the effect on moral behaviour may be shortlived .

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Youth Crime Essay

This sample IELTS writing is on the subject of  youth crime .

In this essay, you are presented with an issue and asked to discuss the  'reasons'  why it is occuring and suggest  'solutions' .

Crime is a topic that sometimes arises in IELTS essays and in speaking questions. But be careful to identify what kind of crime is being referred to - this is specifically  youth crime .

You need to give some reasons that it is happening and then give some solutions.

IELTS Youth Crime Essay

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world.

What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.

Write at least 250 words.

Model Answer

Over the last few decades, many cities around the world have seen alarming increases in the levels of youth crime. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and provide some possible solutions.

The first reason is connected with the family. In order for a child to grow up in a balanced way, it is very important that he or she is nurtured well by his or her parents. However, these days, it is often the case that children are neglected. This may be because of the fact that many parents in cities now both have to work so are often not around to give their children support when needed. Another factor is the increasing levels of poverty around the world. We have seen with globalization the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and this inevitably means that those who are poorer will have to resort to illegal means to get what others have. Of course, this will include the children in the poorer families.

However, there are ways to tackle such problems. Firstly, one of the ways to combat the problem is to have stricter punishments. Although, as discussed above, it can be outside factors that lead to crime, it is still important to have severe punishments to deter teenagers from crime. All too often, because they are young, the courts are too lenient. Parents also have to take more responsibility for their children’s actions. They too should be punished if their children commit crime.

To sum up, several factors have led to increases in youth crime, but measures are available to tackle this problem.

(267 words)

The topic of youth crime is clearly stated in the general statement of the introduction, and the thesis tells the reader that reasons and solutions will be discussed.

It is organized well, with reasons for youth crime discussed in the first body paragraph and solutions in the next. Each paragraph has two ideas and they are clearly signaled and well supported.

There are some good complex structures (In order for…, often the case that…, means that…,) and some good examples of topic related vocabulary (nurtured…, neglected…, illegal…, severe punishments…, deter…, commit crime…).

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The Nature of Youth Crime

• First Online: 01 January 2011

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• Shahid Alvi 2  

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Criminology ((BRIEFSCRIMINOL))

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This chapter examines some important aspects of what we know about the quality and quantity of youth crime. One of the key arguments is that there are severe limitations associated with official sources of data for certain types of crimes, thus reducing our confidence in fully understanding the nature and level of youth crime in Canada. Keeping these limitations in mind, the chapter shows that youth are not getting more violent and that a significant contributor to the perception of increased youth violence lies in the category of common assault which is sensitive to changes in official responses to youths behavior. The chapter also examines the relevance of categories such as “race,” class, and gender.

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• Property Crime
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Alvi, S. (2012). The Nature of Youth Crime. In: Youth Criminal Justice Policy in Canada. SpringerBriefs in Criminology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0273-3_3

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May 15, 2020

Why young people commit crime and how moral education could help

by Neema Trivedi-Bateman, The Conversation

There is a significant link between moral emotions and offending behavior in young people. Moral emotions are learnt—and more attention needs to be given to the teaching of morals in childhood to address this link between morality and crime.

My research has proved that young people are more likely to carry out violent acts if they have weak empathy, shame and guilt, and if they do not feel violence is wrong. On the surface, this may seem obvious, but the research provides a new, evidence-based clarity about the decisions that lead to crime . It was previously thought that other personal factors—such as lack of self-control or social disadvantage – or external factors like the opportunity to commit crime were at the root of why crime occurs.

Having poor morals doesn't mean that a young person is inherently bad. Morality is learnt in childhood. It is the people that we spend time with that teach us morals . It follows that if someone's moral development is insufficient, they shouldn't be immediately labelled as "bad" but that they have had inadequate or misguided teaching from the important people in their life.

Moral development programmes should be developed and taught to children to reduce the likelihood of them growing up to believe that criminal behavior could be seen as morally acceptable. Moral education should be considered to be as crucial as nutrition, health, and formal education for our future generations to thrive.

Moral emotions

I carried out in-depth interviews with 50 young and prolific violent offenders, looking at the role of moral emotions in the decision to commit violence. I asked them about their most recent act of violence. In some cases, this had occurred the day before the interview itself.

My findings provided evidence that empathy, shame and guilt were lacking. For example, when asked "did you feel ashamed or guilty when others found out?" one person responded that "there's not much guilt involved in the whole situation to be honest."

My findings are backed up by the results of a groundbreaking study carried out at the University of Cambridge. I worked with the study team for eight years and led the research team during some of the interview phases.

The Peterborough Adolescent and Young Adult Development study (PADS+) tracked the lives of a large, representative sample of young people for ten years, a unique and thorough approach to discovering how and why we behave in certain ways.

Around 4% of the study sample—roughly only 35 young people—were responsible for almost half of all total crimes reported by approximately 700 people across a ten-year period from the age of 12 until they reached 22.

This small handful of individuals reported weak moral emotions: empathy, shame and guilt. We found that the individuals who reported the weakest moral emotions admitted to involvement in, on average, 71 crimes. By contrast, those reporting the strongest sense of moral emotion only admitted involvement in one crime.

Peer influence

Young people tend to spend most of their time with parents or primary caregivers, teachers and their peer groups. If a child's peers or parents don't think it's wrong to commit a crime, or lack empathy or guilty feelings towards the people affected by that crime, then this a likely to affect how the young person feels as well. Research shows that lack of guilt for rule-breaking behavior can be displayed from as young as three .

It is very likely that the primary and critical time windows for morality development begin in early childhood, and extend to later childhood and adolescence. It appears that major life events—such as having stable relationships with family members or a partner, or a job, or having a child—can reinforce one's moral code and reduce the likelihood of offending behavior.

This partially explains the dip in the age-crime curve , which is a general and widely reported trend: young people peak in terms of offending in middle to late adolescence and reduce offending substantially by their early twenties.

Moral education

Research shows that spending time with people who provide examples of strong morals can lead to law-abiding behavior. If a child does not successfully experience early bonding experiences and develop moral and emotional commitments to others, the development of empathy may be prevented or blocked .

Students absorb positive moral behaviors when surrounded with just and fair role models, rules, and interactions . Schools that foster a sense of community and hold discussions about morality can provide this environment. But if environments that foster moral development are not prolonged and sustained across several years, the effect on moral behavior may be short-lived .

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Essay on Teenagers and Crime in 100, 200, and 350 Words

• Updated on  
• Feb 2, 2024

Teenage is an important time in life as most of the habits, good and bad, are developed during this time. Our schooling, hobbies, social life, etc. are all developed during this time. But sometimes, a lot of teenagers fall victim to bad habits or criminal activities, which certainly destroy their lives.

Essay topics like teenagers and crime are certainly on the rise because of rising hate and violent activities among children and young adults. The objective of such essay topics is to understand how essays on teenagers and crime activities can help raise awareness about the challenges faced by law enforcement, policymakers, and communities. Below we have discussed some essay on teenagers and crime for school students.

Master the art of essay writing with our blog on How to Write an Essay in English .

This Blog Includes:

Essay on teenagers and crime in 100 words, essay on teenagers and crime in 200 words, teenage crimes in india, reasons for juvenile crimes.

Also Read:- Essay on Waste Management

In today’s world, it has become our duty as guardians, parents, individuals, and society to allow and provide teenagers with the opportunity for growth in a healthy socio-cultural environment so that they can become responsible personalities. The teenage years are quite delicate ones. They shape personalities and develop characters. Children must be guided in the right direction during their teenage years because there is a high risk of them falling into crime. For a lot of reasons, a large number of children do not follow the settled social and legal standards. Hence, they often get involved in crime. Such children need to be properly guided and looked after to protect them from falling into the pit of teenage crime. 

Also Read:- Essay on Subhash Chandra Bose for Students

Teenage years are a very important aspect of each individual’s journey. They help shape personalities and develop characters. Every individual understands himself/herself better during their teenage years. But these teenage years are extremely delicate too because the guidance children get during these moulds them. If guided in the wrong direction, their life can take serious turns and can even lead to teenage crime. Hence, giving children the correct guidance at the right age becomes crucial to keeping them out of the hands of teenage crime. 

Preventing teenage crime is one of the moral obligations and duties of society in such a way that the children do not become wayward and remain in the social downstream. Parents should keep a check on their children and connect with them by spending time so that whenever there is recruitment of guidance, the same can be given by them and in the right direction. If teenage crime exists, then there exist solutions to the same. We as a society must come forward take the necessary initiatives and put a stop to teenage crimes because if not do so today, there won’t be a tomorrow left to save children from it.

Also Read:- Essay on My Hobby

Essay on Teenagers and Crime in 350 words

Teenage is a beautiful time in children’s life. It is the one where we start to understand ourselves, and our interests, and develop on the same. It is the time when personalities develop and characters are formed. But there is one other aspect to it. In recent times, teenagers have become susceptible to crime. They are making the wrong choices and falling into the pit of teenage crime. Hence, it is becoming essential for parents, guardians, as well as teachers to pay attention and guide the children properly. The teenage years are very delicate. Hence, guidance in the right direction is essential to prevent children from coming into the grasp of teenage crime. 

A lot of crimes, ranging from petty crimes such as theft, burglary, snatching, etc. to serious crimes such as robbery, dacoity, murder, etc are being committed by teenagers. The most unfortunate thing of all is that the children committing these crimes belong to the age group of 16 to 18. 

No individual is born a criminal. There are reasons behind it that lead to the same. The role of socio-cultural environment, both inside as well as outside of the home is very significant in moulding one’s overall personality as well as life. Some of the reasons that lead to teenage crimes include poverty, drug abuse, abusive parents, easy availability of firearms, the role of media, etc. In India, poverty and the role of media are the ones that incline teenagers towards crime. 

Here is a link to a YouTube video on what are the major reasons for juvenile crimes.

The increasing rate of teenage crime is of concern. It is essential to take action on it immediately. This action can be setting up legal laws for the punishment of such crimes and not considering them minors, but the major action has to be taken by the parents and society front. Parents need to keep an eye on their children and make sure to guide them in the right direction. We, as a society, need to come together and take action to prevent children from coming into the grasp of teenage crimes. If done so, these crimes can be prevented. 

Ans: Any crime that is committed by an individual who is under the age of 18 is considered a youth crime.

Ans: A lot of crimes, ranging from petty crimes such as theft, burglary, snatching, etc. to serious crimes such as robbery, dacoity, murder, etc are being committed by teenagers. The most unfortunate thing of all is that the children committing these crimes belong to the age group of 16 to 18. 

Ans: No individual is born a criminal. There are reasons behind it that lead to the same. The role of socio-cultural environment, both inside as well as outside of the home is very significant in moulding one’s overall personality as well as life. Some of the reasons that lead to teenage crimes include poverty, drug abuse, abusive parents, easy availability of firearms, the role of media, etc. In India, poverty and the role of media are the ones that incline teenagers towards crime.

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This brings us to the end of our blog on essay on teenagers and crime. Hope you find this information useful. For more information on such informative topics for your school, visit our essay writing and follow Leverage Edu.

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Essay on Crime

Students are often asked to write an essay on Crime in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Crime

Understanding crime.

Crime refers to acts that violate the law. They are considered harmful and punishable by a governing authority. Crimes can range from theft to murder.

Types of Crimes

There are various types of crimes. Violent crimes include actions like assault, while theft falls under property crimes. White-collar crimes involve fraud or embezzlement.

Consequences of Crime

Crimes have severe consequences. They can lead to imprisonment, fines, or even death penalties. Moreover, they harm communities and individuals, causing fear and damage.

Preventing Crime

Preventing crime involves law enforcement, education, and community programs. Everyone can contribute to a safer society by obeying laws and reporting suspicious activities.

Also check:

• Paragraph on Crime
• Speech on Crime

250 Words Essay on Crime

Introduction.

Crime, a pervasive aspect of society, is an act that violates a law and is punishable by the state. It disruptively breaches societal norms, creating a sense of insecurity and fear. This essay delves into the nature of crime, its causes, and the role of law enforcement.

The Nature of Crime

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across cultures and societies. It ranges from minor offences like theft to severe ones like homicide. The nature of crime reflects societal values, as what is considered criminal is determined by the prevailing legal and moral code.

Causes of Crime

The causes of crime are multifaceted, involving biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Biological theories suggest genetic predispositions towards criminal behaviour. Psychological theories focus on the individual’s mental processes and their interaction with the environment. Sociological theories, on the other hand, emphasize societal structures and inequalities as major crime contributors.

Law Enforcement and Crime

Law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in maintaining order, preventing crime, and ensuring justice. They function as a deterrent, keeping potential criminals in check. However, their effectiveness is contingent upon their ability to adapt to evolving criminal tactics.

In conclusion, crime is a societal issue with deep roots in individual and social structures. Understanding its nature and causes is key to formulating effective strategies for prevention and control. As society evolves, so too must our approach to understanding and combating crime.

500 Words Essay on Crime

Crime, a social and legal concept, has been a part of human society since its inception. It refers to the actions that violate the norms and laws of a society, leading to harm or potential harm to individuals or the community. The study of crime, its causes, effects, and prevention, is a crucial aspect of sociology, psychology, and criminology.

Crime is a complex phenomenon, varying across societies and times. It is not static but evolves with societal norms and legal frameworks. What may be considered a crime in one society may not be in another, and similarly, what was a crime in the past might not be so today. For instance, homosexuality was once criminalized in many societies, but it is now widely accepted and decriminalized.

Types of Crime

Crimes are generally categorized into personal crimes, property crimes, inchoate crimes, statutory crimes, and financial crimes. Personal crimes involve direct harm or threat to an individual, such as assault or robbery. Property crimes involve interfering with another person’s property, like burglary or theft. Inchoate crimes are those that were started but not completed, while statutory crimes are violations of specific statutes. Financial crimes, such as fraud or embezzlement, involve the illegal conversion of property ownership.

The causes of crime are multifaceted, often interwoven with societal, psychological, and economic factors. Poverty, lack of education, substance abuse, and family violence are some common societal factors leading to crime. Psychological factors include personality disorders, low self-control, and aggression. Economic factors, such as unemployment or income inequality, also contribute significantly to crime rates.

Effects of Crime

Crime affects society in numerous ways, from creating fear and insecurity to damaging social cohesion. It impacts the economy by diverting resources towards law enforcement and away from other sectors. On an individual level, crime can lead to physical harm, psychological trauma, and financial loss.

Crime prevention strategies are as diverse as the causes of crime. They include social strategies, such as improving education and employment opportunities, and legal strategies, such as effective law enforcement and fair judicial systems. Psychological interventions, like counseling and therapy, can also play a significant role in crime prevention.

Understanding crime is essential to creating a safe and harmonious society. By examining its nature, types, causes, effects, and prevention, we can develop effective strategies to reduce crime rates and mitigate its impact on individuals and communities. It is a collective responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of individuals, communities, and governments.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Crime Against Women
• Essay on How to Reduce Unemployment
• Essay on Conclusion for Unemployment

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Debunking the perceived associations between ethnicity and youth gangs

In Australia, as with many other countries around the world, migrant young people receive significant media and political attention as alleged perpetrators of gang-based criminal activity.

Media and political discourses consistently portray them as being responsible for antisocial, delinquent and criminal behaviour, which in turns fuels public perceptions that young people are out of control, threatening, violent and dangerous.

Assumptions are often erroneously made about the behaviour of youth by their ethnicity. Gang identities are frequently described by police and media in racial terms.

Our new research debunks the myths. Our paper in the Journal of Youth Studies  shows that after separating ethnicity from other “youth crime” risk factors (family, neighbourhood, individual “delinquency”, school, peers, law enforcement) there is, in fact, no association between migrant status and youth crime in Australia.

“This is not to say that no members of youth gangs in Australia are first or second-generation migrants,” the paper states, “but rather that the perception of gangs based exclusively on ethnic identity is unfounded.”

Racial profiling ‘detrimental’

The study explores the risk factors and uses data from the Australia Youth Safety Survey  from 2945 young people aged 14-25 years.

While it acknowledges youth gangs and youth violence do exist, it says racial or ethnic profiling of migrant cohorts in relation to crime is “detrimental to those who are affected by such labels” and affected by “moral panics created by media and political discourse”.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. After all, this has been a consistent feature over time, with “Asian gangs” in the 1990s in the US, UK and Australia, “Middle-Eastern gangs” around the time of 9/11, “Turkish gangs” and “Albanian gangs” in the UK and Europe, and “African gangs” in Australia since the early 2000s.

Read more: Unlocking the fear and myths around ‘African gangs’ in Melbourne

This has detrimental impacts on the sense of belonging felt by migrant young people. The teenage years are vital, formative years for developing identity, self-worth and purpose.

Constantly facing scrutiny from the public, politicians and media because of physical appearance is taxing.

Traditionally, gang involvement can be seen through multiple marginalities, with ecological, historical, structural, and the social control factors coalescing with street socialisation to lead to gang membership.

Factors preventing gang involvement

Results show being a first or second-generation migrant has no relation to gang membership. That is, neither being a migrant, nor a child of a migrant, increases the odds of joining a gang.

While we didn’t identify any factors that make a young person more likely to be involved in a gang, we found several factors that reduced the odds of them being in a gang.

Having a high sense of self-control and strong morals actively worked to prevent gang membership. These factors are instilled in children from a young age.

Read more:  Ripple effect: The social consequences of the ‘everyday’ hate crime

A youth gang is defined  as “any durable, street-oriented youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of its group identity”.

We also analysed the importance of neighbourhood conditions on youth gang membership to explore ecological differences in the environment in which a young person lives.

At the wider neighbourhood level, gang membership is more likely for those who live in a neighbourhood with high levels of disorder, or cohesive, tight-knit neighbourhoods.

Integration undermined by messaging

The challenges associated with immigration and settlement experiences are numerous, and community integration of immigrants is undermined by racialised public messaging strategies that promote dichotomies of “us” and “them”, and seek to accentuate differences.

A focus on creating and strengthening positive images of immigrants, rather than instilling blame and mistrust, will be more conducive to social benefits for society.

Building on this research, the team plans to undertake future research into the impact of stigma and labelling on young people from migrant backgrounds, and develop strategies to build community capacity to counter these harmful narratives to ensure they’re not detrimental to young peoples’ development.

This article was co-authored by Associate Professor Angela Higginson, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology.

• youth crime
• youth gangs
• youth crime and ethnicity
• youth gangs and migrants
• youth violence

Kathryn Benier

Senior Lecturer in Criminology, School of Social Sciences

Ripple effect: The social consequences of the ‘everyday’ hate crime

New research shows that those who witness hate crime express greater anger towards ethnic minorities.

Reinforcing racism

The so-called Moomba 'riot' and subsequent media sensationalism has had a detrimental effect on young South Sudanese in Victoria.

Deconstructing 'African gangs'

A moral panic and sensationalist media reporting demonstrates how rhetoric can promote fear and intolerance.

A tale of two cities

Melbourne is undoubtedly a multicultural hub, but questions over social exclusion show that it's far from perfect.

The legacy of the Moomba 'riot'

Missing from the debate about "ethnic gangs" are the voices of young people from the South Sudanese community.

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DC Mayor Bowser aims to target truancy, youth crime in new legislation

W ASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — D.C.’s Mayor Muriel Bowser is proposing new legislation aimed at targeting truancy in the District, while also prosecuting kids who commit violent crime.

Bowser unveiled the UPLIFT Amendment Act of 2024 Wednesday.

The bill aims to support families in “remediating barriers to school attendances,” while also requiring the court system to take action to ensure accountability if needed, according to the Mayor’s Office.

In part, the proposed provisions include:

• Streamlining the truancy referral process by connecting students and families with resources through the Department of Human Services before engaging Child and Family Services.
• Establishing temporary alternative schools for students with behavioral issues, as opposed to suspending them.
• Increasing parental accountability by requiring parents to attend mandatory family conferences if their child is charged with a violent crime.
• Limiting diversion and plea deals for youth charged with violent crimes involving a gun.

“They need to be in school for a host of reasons,” Deputy Mayor for Justice and Public Safety, Lindsey Appiah, said. “One, we still believe it is the safest place for them. Two, we know when they’re there, they’re engaged with caring adults and pro-social activity.”

According to data from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, nearly 40% of students were chronically absent without reason in D.C. during the last school year. That means the student had 10 or more unexcused absences.

“Whether it’s one [student] or 1,000, it’s too many for us,” Appiah said.

The proposal came just days after a 12-year-old girl, and two 13-year-old girls were charged with beating a man to death in October last year.

Appiah said the the number of young kids committing violent crime led to the provision that limits diversion.

Diversion is currently offered to some youth offenders as opposed to incarceration and includes wrap around services to help rehabilitate them and prevent them from committing new crimes.

Appiah said they still believe in diversion.

“We believe it’s appropriate for some young people. But we are seeing an increase in young people who are involved in more serious crime and dangerous crime and gun crime,” Appiah said. “What we want is to make sure young people and their families end up with the right support, with the right intervention.”

The bill stops short of charging parents for crimes their children commit.

“What we all want is a safer city. What we all want is a better outcome, both for the community and for young people and we don’t necessarily have any evidence that incarcerated parents will get us there,” Appiah said.

Kaitlin Banner is the deputy legal director for the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

“We’re really glad there is new and renewed attention to the issue of attendance and absenteeism,” she said. “We know that young people need to be in school in order to succeed.”

Still, Banner said there are some concerns with the proposal, including how closely it links juvenile crime and truancy.

“We’re concerned this bill will increase the incarceration of young people and is really relying on practices that we know are not effective for addressing truancy,” Banner said.

She said she supports the inclusion of the Department of Human Services into the conversation. But, she hopes the services that help address root causes are fully funded in the upcoming budget.

“We know the leading causes of truancy in D.C. and nationwide are students who are not in stable housing, students who are homeless, students with disabilities who don’t have access to the accommodations and services they need in school,” Banner said. “We want to make sure that the programs that address those root causes are funded robustly in this budget.

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Teacher held up at knifepoint says Katherine's crime problems going under the radar

A Katherine teacher who was allegedly held up at knifepoint inside his home in the early hours of Good Friday is calling for more attention and resources to tackle crime in the regional Northern Territory town, as the national spotlight is fixed in Alice Springs amid its two-week youth curfew .

NT Police this week detailed a string of incidents in Katherine over the Easter period, saying the behaviour of some young people in the town was "disappointing".

One of the incidents Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst described was a break-in to a home where a Toyota Corolla was allegedly stolen at knifepoint, then used in a series of ramraids on businesses in the town.

The owner of that Corolla spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, fearing retribution.

"There's a six-foot-tall male with a cap and a mask, and with a knife in his hand. And he puts a knife on my back and asked me to hand him the car keys," the man said.

"And I just had my hands up completely frozen, not knowing what to do.

"The only thing I was praying to God at that split second was 'please don't stab me'."

Two 17-year-olds have been charged over the incident.

Up until the incident, the man had been a teacher at a Katherine school, where he had worked for more than a year.

His family members, who were overseas when the alleged incident occurred, had been about to move down from Darwin to join him.

Now, he is packing up his house and leaving the outback town over concerns for his family's safety.

He said he planned to leave the the NT altogether.

"Everyone's focused on what's happening in Alice Springs, but I think there is … an increase in youth crimes in in Katherine and it has to stop," he said.

"I'm packing my bags and I'm leaving as soon as I can."

Alcohol-related assaults more than a match for Alice

NT crime statistics for the month of January 2024 — the most recent available — show there were more alcohol-related assaults per capita in Katherine than in Alice Springs.

The management of alcohol in Alice Springs has been a subject of controversy in recent months, after a large group of police auxiliary liquor inspectors (PALIs) from across the territory were sent to Darwin to be trained as constables, blind-siding bottle shop owners in Alice Springs .

Katherine bottle shops were left without coverage as well.

Katherine MLA Jo Hersey, who is also the NT's shadow education spokesperson, questioned why the NT government had not put contingency plans in place.

"As of March 11, I knew that we weren't going to be having any PALIs here in Katherine on the bottle shops. And what I have been asking the police minister is, where was the planning?" she said.

A little over two weeks ago, the NT government announced a contingent of 20 police would be sent to Alice Springs to plug the gaps in coverage at bottle shops.

This week, police announced that seven from that group would be diverted to Katherine instead.

Assistant Commissioner Wurst said the extra staff were being sent "to assist in reassuring the Katherine community that Northern Territory police are aware of their community and want to make sure that community safety is maintained".

Ms Hersey said the redeployment was evidence of "policy on the run, and very poor planning".

NT Police Minister Brent Potter defended the removal of PALIs from Katherine bottle shops, saying their training in Darwin was essential for retaining staff who would have otherwise left the police altogether over a lack of career progression opportunities.

Mr Potter was also asked whether a youth curfew like the one in Alice Springs could be considered for Katherine.

"I think Alice Springs and Katherine are different and they require different responses. But everything is on the table," he said.

"If this is working in Alice Springs, we will assess it in every one of our towns across the territory."

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Indy mayor: Youths who were shot shouldn't have been downtown late without adults

Update: This article was updated with additional and corrected information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on April 1, 2024.

Seven minors ranging from ages 12 to 16 were shot in downtown Indianapolis near the intersection of Illinois and Maryland streets on Saturday night.

All of the juveniles are expected to survive, according to an update from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department sent out Monday.

Patrolling officers on were first alerted when they heard gunshots fired along Maryland Street near the Circle Center Mall just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The officers found a large group of minors, and six of the minors had gunshot wounds. 

The injured juveniles were transported to area hospitals and another minor with gunshot wounds from the shooting received care after walking into a hospital. The following juveniles were hurt in the shooting:  

• Two 16-year-old boys
• One 16-year-old girl 
• Three 14-year-old girls
• One 12-year-old male  

"Detectives are actively following up on multiple leads, reviewing surveillance footage, and have applied for multiple search warrants," reads an update from Indianapolis police on the shooting. "Details of the leads and nature of the search warrants are not being shared to protect the integrity of the investigation."

Two juveniles were arrested and are facing preliminary charges of resisting law enforcement in connection with the shooting, police said.   

Anyone with info on the shooting is asked to contact Detective Albert Teaters at 317-327-3475 or [email protected] . They can also contact Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 to remain anonymous. 

In a statement Sunday, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said he was "heartbroken" about the incident and emphasized the need for solutions to limit the ability for young people to access firearms.

"Let me be clear: A 12-year-old child has no business being out late at night anywhere without parental or adult supervision," Hogsett said in a statement. "As important, there is no reason why a young person at any age should be in possession of a gun."

The shooting Saturday night marks a third violent weekend in March in Indianapolis. A shooting at a Broad Ripple bar March 16 left one man dead and five others injured. Last weekend, a shooting at an east side bar resulted in another death and five were injured, including an IMPD officer.

IndyStar reporter Jake Allen contributed to this article.

Contact IndyStar's state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at [email protected] or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter /X @CarloniBrittany .