Recognizing the Dangers of Juvenile Crime

When stories about juvenile crime are reported in Georgia, many parents feel the concern of protecting their own children from becoming active participants in dangerous delinquent behavior. While protocols are implemented in many communities and educational systems to deter young people from participating in harmful behavior, there are times when teenagers evade responsibility and do things that can put the lives of others at risk.

Recognizing the dangers of juvenile crime is imperative to understanding what measures must be taken to punish young adults that have done something bad, to hopefully help them understand how their choices now can affect their future, happiness and success later on in their life.

According to the National Institute of Justice, while a notable 40 to 60 percent of juvenile delinquents stop participating in criminal behavior before they become adults, the remainder have a dangerously high risk of committing persistently worse crimes as they become older. The lethal status of their offenses may become riskier with every crime and ultimately endanger innocent people.

The National Academies Press provides parents and educators with some ideas of what can be done to prevent juvenile crime with early and persistent intervention and instruction. For children or young adults who are at risk of becoming involved in criminal behavior, social workers can be a valuable resource to use in providing support and education to both the young adults and their families. Another option is therapy where at-risk youth can learn about different ways to cope with their emotions and respond to situations that could cause them stress and anxiety.