The Family and Delinquency

1. Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) 1 Chapter 7 The Family and Delinquency

2. 2 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) The Changing American Family Changing sex roles have created a family where women play a much greater role in the economic process creating a more egalitarian family structure. Family makeup Child care Economic stress

3. 3 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family�s Influence on Delinquency

4. 4 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family Breakup Broken home is a home in which one or both parents are absent due to divorce or separation. Children in such an environment may be prone to antisocial behavior. Blended families are nuclear families that are the product of divorce and remarriage, blending one parent from each of two families and their combined children into one family unit. These are also less stable than intact families.

5. 5 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) The Effects of Divorce Boys seem to be more affected by the post-divorce absence of the father. Girls are more affected by both the quality of the mother�s parenting and post-divorce parental conflict. There are distinct racial and ethnic differences in the impact of divorce/separation on youth.

6. 6 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family Conflict Intra-family violence refers to an environment of discord and conflict within the family. Children who grow up in dysfunctional homes often exhibit delinquent behaviors, having learned at a young age that aggression pays off. Parental efficacy, families in which parents are able to integrate their children into the household unit while at the same time helping their individuality and regulate their own behavior, reduces delinquency.

7. 7 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family Structure-Delinquency Link Children growing up in families disrupted by parental death are better adjusted than children of divorce. Remarriage does not lessen the effects of divorce on youth. Continued contact with the non-custodial parent has little effect on a child�s well-being.

8. 8 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family Structure-Delinquency Link Evidence that the behavior of children of divorce improves over time is inconclusive. Post-divorce conflict between parents is related to child maladjustment. Parental divorce raises the likelihood of teenage marriage.

9. 9 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Inconsistent Discipline Parents of delinquent youth tend to be inconsistent disciplinarians. Inconsistent and ineffective supervision Mother�s employment and ineffective supervision Resource dilution

10. 10 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Family Deviance A number of factors may place a role in intergenerational deviance. Genetic factors Substance abuse Parenting skills Stigma

11. 11 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Child Abuse and Neglect Parental abuse and neglect is not a modern phenomenon, but concerted efforts to deal with the problem did not begin until 1874. Parental abuse of Mary Ellen in NYC Battered child syndrome is the non-accidental physical injury of children by their parents or guardians.

12. 12 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Defining Abuse and Neglect Child abuse is any physical, emotional, or sexual trauma to a child, including neglecting to give proper care and attention, for which no reasonable explanation can be found. Neglect is passive neglect by a parent or guardian, depriving children of food, shelter, health care, and love.

13. 13 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) The Effects of Abuse Abused children experience mental and social problems across their lifespan, ranging from substance abuse to possession of a damaged personality. Maltreatment encourages children to use aggression as a means of solving problems and prevents feelings of empathy for others. Sexually abused children have a higher risk of being re-abused as an adult.

14. 14 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) The Extent of Child Abuse The youth and limited communication abilities make it impossible to estimate the extent of child abuse. Child Protective Services investigates approximately 3.5 million allegations of child abuse annually. The younger the child the higher the risk for victimization. 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 3 girls have been victims of sexual exploitation.

15. 15 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Causes of Child Abuse and Neglect Parents who themselves suffered abuse tend to abuse their own children. The presence of an unrelated adult increases the risk of abuse. Isolated and alienated families tend to become abusive. Parental alcohol is associated with child abuse. Stepchildren are more likely to be abused and overrepresented in familicide.

16. 16 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Child Protection System: Philosophy and Practice For most of our nation�s history, courts have assumed that parents have the right to bring up their children as they see fit. In 1974, Congress passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which provides funds to states to bolster their services for maltreated children and their parents.

17. 17 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Investigating and Reporting Abuse State laws require doctors, teachers, and others who work with children to report suspected cases to child protection services. Many maltreated children are out of the law�s reach because they are too young for school. Once reported the case is screened by an intake worker and then investigated by a caseworker. If the caseworker determines that the child is in imminent danger, the child may be removed from the home.

18. 18 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Process of State Intervention State to state legal processes are similar. If the allegation of abuse is confirmed, the child may be placed in protective custody. If child is not removed, state authorities are given more time to notify the court of suspected abuse. When an abuse or neglect petition is prosecuted, an advisement hearing is held. Parents have a right to counsel in all cases of abuse or neglect. If parents deny petition , an attorney is appointed to the child and the case is continued for a pretrial conference.

19. 19 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Disposition In a disposition hearing, the social service agency presents its case plan and recommendations for care of the child and treatment of the parents, including incarceration and counseling or other treatment. The state attempts to balance the parent�s natural right to control their child�s upbringing with the child�s right to grow into adulthood free from harm. Review hearings to determine whether the conditions of the case pan for an abused child are being met by the parents or guardians of the child.

20. 20 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) The Abused Child in Court One of the most significant problems associated with abuse cases is the trauma a child must go through in a court hearing. Videotaped statements Interviews with child witness Closed-circuit television (CCTV) White v. Illinois (1992) removed the requirement that prosecutors produce child victims in court.

21. 21 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Disposition of Abuse and Neglect Cases Courts try to avoid removing a child from the home. Employ techniques to control abusive relationships. Removed of child is placed in a shelter care or foster home. Court has the power to terminate parental rights (TPR)

22. 22 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Abuse, Neglect, and Delinquency Social control theory. By disrupting normal relationships and impeding socialization, maltreatment reduces the social bond and frees individuals to become involved in deviance. Social learning theory. Maltreatment leads to delinquency, because it teaches children that aggression and violence are justifiable forms of behavior.

23. 23 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Abuse, Neglect, and Delinquency General strain theory. Maltreatment creates the �negative affective states� that are related to strain, anger, and aggression. Trait theory. Maltreated youth will develop symptoms of psychological abnormality (e.g., depression, psychosis), that have been linked to antisocial behaviors.

24. 24 Siegal & Welsh, Juvenile Justice: The Core, 2007 (Wadsworth) Abuse-Delinquency Link Most abused youth do not become delinquent. Many delinquent youth come from �model homes.� Some external factor such as environmental deprivation may cause both abuse and delinquency. Timing and extent of abuse may also shape its impact. Abuse may impact on some groups of adolescents more than it does others.