Juvenile delinquency is not a modern problem of society, but is only discussed more publicly due to its constant presence in the media. The current trial of three youths from Munich, who beat a man to death in September last year because of his moral courage, triggered a nationwide debate on juvenile delinquency and became the focus of social as well as political discussions. Due to daily "horror reports" in the media, it can be assumed that the brutality of young people and the extent of juvenile delinquency in Germany have increased enormously in recent years. But whether this assumption corresponds to reality and is not exclusively caused by the media is one of the questions to be examined in this paper. During many political discussions, the question repeatedly comes to the fore as to whether it makes sense to introduce tougher sanction measures and to tighten the Youth Act. Regarding these questions, many empirical studies are conducted that examine and compare the effects of prison detention and therapeutic measures.
Accordingly, this paper deals with the central question of whether tougher sanctioning measures can reduce the extent of juvenile delinquency and which possible preventive measures achieve an appropriate effect. In the first part of the thesis, the terms delinquency, juveniles and juvenile delinquency will be explained in order to create a clear basis of definition for this thesis. In addition, the age of criminal responsibility of children, youths and adolescents will be dealt with in order to give an overview of legal basics on this topic. In the following two chapters, statistics will be used to examine the extent to which juvenile delinquency has increased or decreased in Germany and whether changes can be observed with regard to criminal offences. Subsequently, the state of research regarding the causes of juvenile delinquency will be examined more closely, as the explanatory approaches represent an important basis for possible preventive measures, which will be the focus of the last chapter.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Definitions of terms
- 2.1 Crime, deviance, delinquency
- 2.2 Juveniles and criminal responsibility
- 2.3 Juvenile delinquency
- 3. The extent of juvenile delinquency
- 4. Forms of juvenile delinquency
- 4.1 Offences
- 4.2 Young migrants
- 5. Risk factors
- 5.1 Social influencing factors
- 5.1.1 Family
- 5.1.2 Peer group
- 5.1.3 School
- 5.1.4 Media
- 5.1.5 Environment and social space
- 5.2 Individual characteristics and personality traits
- 5.2.1 Biological characteristics
- 5.2.2 Willingness to use violence and risk-taking
- 5.2.3 Gender
- 6. Preventive measures
- 6.1 Definition of prevention
- 6.2 Police, judiciary and sanctions
- 6.3 Home and school
- 6.4 Youth welfare
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to investigate the extent of juvenile delinquency in Germany, explore its contributing factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of various preventive measures. It seeks to determine whether stricter sanctions reduce delinquency and which preventative approaches yield better results. The study focuses solely on Germany, excluding international comparisons.
- Defining juvenile delinquency and related concepts
- Analyzing the prevalence and trends of juvenile delinquency in Germany
- Examining the risk factors contributing to juvenile delinquency (social and individual factors)
- Exploring various preventive measures and their effectiveness
- Assessing the impact of different sanctioning approaches on recidivism
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the ongoing societal concern surrounding juvenile delinquency, particularly in light of publicized cases of youth violence. It establishes the central research question of whether stricter sanctions effectively curb delinquency and introduces the paper's structure, outlining the subsequent exploration of definitions, prevalence, contributing factors, and preventative strategies. The chapter emphasizes the need to assess whether media portrayals accurately reflect the reality of the situation, laying the groundwork for a data-driven analysis of the issue.
2. Definitions of terms: This chapter provides crucial definitions to establish a clear framework for the subsequent analysis. It differentiates between crime, deviance, and delinquency, highlighting the nuances of each term and their application within the context of juvenile behavior. It then clarifies the legal definitions of juveniles and adolescents in Germany, emphasizing the age of criminal responsibility and the differing legal frameworks applied to various age groups. The chapter also discusses the complexities of defining juvenile delinquency itself, acknowledging its multifaceted nature and its potential for both transitory and persistent behavior. The chapter establishes a strong foundation of terms relevant to the study.
3. The extent of juvenile delinquency: This chapter delves into statistical data to analyze the scope and trends of juvenile delinquency in Germany. While specific statistics are not provided in the excerpt, it's implied that this section uses quantitative data to assess whether the perceived increase in youth crime aligns with objective evidence. It presumably examines shifts in crime rates over time, possibly correlating them with social and economic indicators. This chapter forms the empirical backbone, supplying evidence to support or refute commonly held perceptions about the extent of the problem.
4. Forms of juvenile delinquency: This chapter explores the various forms that juvenile delinquency takes, likely differentiating between types of offenses and potentially examining specific crime categories. The subchapters on offenses and young migrants suggest an investigation into the diversity of criminal behaviors exhibited by young people and a potential analysis of how migration status might influence involvement in criminal activity. This chapter adds depth to the analysis by providing a detailed typology of juvenile offenses.
5. Risk factors: This chapter investigates the factors that contribute to juvenile delinquency, categorizing them into social influences and individual characteristics and personality traits. The social factors likely cover family dynamics, peer pressure, school experiences, media influence, and environmental aspects. The individual factors might include biological predispositions, propensity for violence or risk-taking, and gender-related aspects. This chapter is crucial for understanding the root causes of the phenomena.
6. Preventive measures: This chapter focuses on preventative strategies. It covers the definition of prevention itself, considering policing and judicial sanctions, as well as the roles of home, school, and youth welfare agencies. The analysis is likely to compare different approaches to prevention and evaluate their efficacy in reducing delinquency rates. This chapter is essential for offering solutions and policy recommendations.
Keywords
Juvenile delinquency, crime, deviance, risk factors, prevention, sanctions, youth justice, Germany, social factors, individual characteristics, recidivism, youth welfare, peer influence, family influence, media influence.
Frequently Asked Questions: Juvenile Delinquency in Germany
What is the overall purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of juvenile delinquency in Germany. It explores the definition of juvenile delinquency, its prevalence, contributing factors (both social and individual), and the effectiveness of various preventive measures. The document aims to analyze whether stricter sanctions reduce delinquency and identify the most effective preventative approaches.
What topics are covered in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, definitions of key terms (crime, deviance, delinquency, juvenile responsibility), the extent of juvenile delinquency in Germany, forms of juvenile delinquency, risk factors (social and individual), and preventive measures (police, judiciary, home, school, youth welfare).
What are the key objectives and themes of the study?
The study aims to investigate the extent of juvenile delinquency in Germany, explore its contributing factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of various preventive measures. It focuses specifically on Germany and does not include international comparisons. Key themes include defining juvenile delinquency, analyzing its prevalence and trends, examining risk factors (social and individual), exploring preventive measures and their effectiveness, and assessing the impact of different sanctioning approaches on recidivism.
What are the key findings regarding the extent of juvenile delinquency in Germany (Chapter 3)?
While specific statistics aren't provided in this preview, Chapter 3 analyzes statistical data to assess the scope and trends of juvenile delinquency in Germany. It examines whether perceived increases in youth crime align with objective evidence, analyzing crime rate shifts over time and potentially correlating them with social and economic indicators.
What forms of juvenile delinquency are examined (Chapter 4)?
Chapter 4 explores various forms of juvenile delinquency, differentiating between types of offenses. It also includes a specific analysis of juvenile delinquency involving young migrants, examining how migration status might influence involvement in criminal activity.
What risk factors are discussed (Chapter 5)?
Chapter 5 investigates risk factors contributing to juvenile delinquency, categorizing them into social influences (family, peer group, school, media, environment) and individual characteristics (biological characteristics, willingness to use violence, risk-taking, gender).
What preventive measures are considered (Chapter 6)?
Chapter 6 focuses on preventive strategies, covering the definition of prevention, the roles of police and judiciary (including sanctions), home and school environments, and youth welfare agencies. It compares different preventative approaches and evaluates their effectiveness in reducing delinquency rates.
What are the key terms or keywords used in the study?
Key terms include juvenile delinquency, crime, deviance, risk factors, prevention, sanctions, youth justice, Germany, social factors, individual characteristics, recidivism, youth welfare, peer influence, family influence, and media influence.
What is the scope of this study regarding geographical location?
This study focuses solely on Germany and does not include international comparisons.
Where can I find more detailed information about the specific statistics on juvenile delinquency in Germany?
Specific statistics are not provided in this preview. The full document would contain the detailed statistical analysis from Chapter 3.
- Quote paper
- Mirka Fuchs (Author), 2010, Forms of Juvenile Delinquency. Causes and Prevention Measures, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1164319
