From the history of juvenile delinquency. Causes of delinquency

Juvenile crime, in law, a term, denoting various offences committed by children or youths under the age of 18. Such acts are sometimes referred to as juvenile delinquency. Children’s offenses typically include delinquent acts, which would be considered crimes if committed by adults, and status offenses, which are less serious misbehavior such as truancy and parental disobedience. Both are within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; more serious offenses committed by minors may be tried in criminal court and be subject to prison sentences.

Under Anglo-American law, a crime is an illegal act committed by a person who has criminal intent. A long-standing presumption held that, although a person of almost any age can commit a criminal act, children under 14 years old were unlikely to have criminal intent. Many juvenile courts have now discarded this so-called infancy defense and have found that delinquent acts can be committed by children of any age.

Since ancient times enlightened legal systems have distinguished between juvenile delinquents and adult criminals. The immature generally were not considered morally responsible for their behavior. Under the Code Napoleon in France, for example, limited responsibility was ascribed to children under the age of 16. Despite the apparent humanity of some early statutes, however, the punishment of juvenile offenders until the 19^th century was often severe. In the US, child criminals were treated as adult criminals. Sentences for all offenders could be harsh and the death penalty was occasionally imposed.

The first institution expressly for juveniles, the House of Refuge, was founded in New York City in 1824 so that institutionalized delinquents could be kept apart from adult criminals. By the mid-19^th century other state institutions for juvenile delinquents were established, and their populations soon included not only young criminals but also less serious offenders and dependent children. The movement spread rapidly throughout the US and abroad. These early institutions were often very rigid and punitive.

In the second half of the 19^th century increased attention was given to the need for special legal procedures that would protect and guide the juvenile offender rather than subject the child to the full force of criminal law.

The first juvenile court was established in Chicago in 1899. With an increase in juvenile crime statistics, legislatures have implemented many new laws in an attempt to crack on juvenile crime. Juveniles enter the justice system through arrests, and two thirds of these juvenile criminals are processed through a juvenile court. Probation is one of the most common sentences given to a juvenile criminal. Fifty eight percent of all juvenile sentences involve probation punishments. In fourteen percent of juvenile crime cases, the court orders out-of-home residential placement of offenders.

One of the principal reasons for the new system was to avoid the harsh treatment previously imposed on delinquent children. An act of wrongdoing by a minor was seen as an indication of the child’s need for care and treatment rather than a justification for punishing that child through criminal penalties. Besides the juvenile court, other innovations in working with juvenile delinquents have appeared in the 20^th century, including child-guidance clinics, juvenile-aid bureaus attached to police departments or other official agencies, and special programs in schools.

Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile crime focus on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. Theories centering on the individual suggest that children engage in criminal behavior because they were not sufficiently penalized for previous delinquent acts or they have learned criminal behavior through interaction with others. A person who becomes socially alienated may be more inclined to commit a criminal act. Theories focusing on the role of society in juvenile delinquency suggest that children commit crimes in response to their failure to rise above their socioeconomic status, or as a repudiation of middle-class values.

Most theories of juvenile delinquency have focused on children from disadvantaged families, ignoring the fact that children from affluent homes also commit crimes. The latter may commit crimes because of lack of adequate parental control, delays in achieving adult status, and hedonistic tendencies. All theories, however, are tentative and are subject to criticism.

http://www.history.com/

http://www.onlinelawyersourse.com/driminal_law/juvenail/statistics.html

http://www/sciencedaily.com/

TASK 2. Answer the following questions:

1) What is juvenile delinquency?

2) What lies within the jurisdiction of juvenile court?

3) What is a crime under Anglo-American law?

4) How do legal systems have distinguished between juvenile delinquents and adult criminals?

5) How did the attitude to juvenile offenders change in the second half of the 19^th century? What was the purpose of new social legal procedures?

6) What has been done by the legislatures to crack on the juvenile delinquency?

7) What are the theories concerning the causes of juvenile crime?

TASK 3. Replace words and word combinations in brackets by their English equivalents from the text above.

1) Children’s offences typically include (противоправные акты), which would be considered crimes if (совершены взрослыми), and status offences, which are less serious misbehavior such as (прогулы и непослушание). 2) In Anglo-American law, a crime is an illegal act committed by a person who has (преступное намерение). 3) A long-standing presumption held that, although a person of almost any age can commit a criminal act, children under 14 years old were unlikely to have (преступные намерения). 4) The (несовершеннолетние) generally were not considered (морально ответственные) for their behavior. 5) Sentences for all offenders could be harsh and (иногда выносился смертный приговор). 6) In the second half of the 19^th century increased attention was given to the need for special legal procedures that would protect and guide the children rather than (заставить ребенка отвечать по всей строгости закона). 7) With an increase in juvenile crime statistics in 1990s, state and federal (законодатели ввели новые законы). 8) (Условный приговор) is one of the most common sentences given to a juvenile criminal. 9) Fifty eight percent of all juvenile sentences involve (условный приговор). 10) In fourteen percent of juvenile crime cases, the court orders (изолируют малолетних преступников от общества). 11) A person who becomes (отвергнутым обществом) may be more (склонным к совершению преступления). 12) Theories focusing on the role of society in juvenile delinquency suggest that children commit crimes in response to their (неспособность изменить свой социально-экономический статус).

TASK 4. (a) Translate the following word combinations into English in writing:

детская преступность; причины детской преступности; правонарушения, совершенные детьми или подростками до 18 лет; преступления, совершенные взрослыми; рассматривать как преступление; менее серьезное правонарушение; прогул; в компетенции суда по делам несовершеннолетних; совершить преступление; подвергнуться тюремному заключению; преступное намерение; нести моральную ответственность за свое поведение; ограниченная ответственность; наложить наказание; несовершеннолетние; приговорить к смертной казни; содержать малолетних преступников отдельно от взрослых; государственные учреждения; принимать меры против детской преступности; избегать жестокого отношения; лица, отчужденные от общества; быть склонным к совершению преступных действий; неспособность изменить свой социальный статус; отсутствие должного родительского контроля.

(b) Translate the following sentences into English in writing:

Детская преступность включает в себя преступления, свершенные детьми или малолетними преступниками до 18 лет; к понятию детской преступности относятся преступные действия, которые могут рассматриваться как преступления, будучи совершенными взрослыми; детские преступления относятся к компетенции суда по делам несовершеннолетних; по англо-американскому законодательству, преступление – это противоправный акт, совершаемый человеком с преступным намерением; предполагалось, что несовершеннолетние преступники не несут моральной ответственности за свое поведение; в США дети-преступники были раньше судимы наравне со взрослыми; для всех правонарушителей приговоры были суровыми и частыми были приговоры к смертной казни; первоначальные государственные учреждения были часто очень жесткими и карательными; законодателя провели в жизнь много законов в попытке принятия мер против детской преступности; несовершеннолетним преступникам по большей части дают условный приговор; ребенок нуждается в заботе и участии более чем в наказании по всей строгости закона; отторгнутый обществом человек может быть более склонным к совершению преступления; не только дети из неблагополучных семей совершают преступления.

(c) Render the text below into English in writing paying attention to the notes in brackets: