Dysfunctional Homes Causing Child Delinquency

           Poverty isn’t the only cause of juvenile delinquency. There are many other reasons as to which it occurs. Coming from a dysfunctional home can always effect a child growing up. A dysfunctional home usually represents scenerios such as: A single-parent home, a parent who deals with having trouble abusing drugs/alcohol, and lastly a parent who faces trouble with the law. In an article written by T. Sullenger, he stated, “We found in many instances children who had been confronted from infancy with drunkenness, immorality, obscene and vulgar language, and poor living conditions. For example, in 125 cases in Omaha in which we obtained data on the environmental conditions in the home, in 20 cases, or 16 percent, the father had been before the court for some misdemeanor. In 22 cases, or 17.6 percent, other children of the family had been before the juvenile court, and in eight cases, or 6.2 percent, the mother had been arrested for some offense. From these same cases 37 homes, or 29.6 percent, were rated as fair; 26, or 20.8 percent, as good, and 62, or 49.6 percent, as poor.” (Pg. 1089). If a juvenile leaves their home to escape the dysfunctional issues, they really do not have a big selection of places to go. As a young person, you may have some friends and maybe some family but you may not feel comfortable going there to escape from your problems. So where does the young person go? He goes to the streets, where there are a ton of criminal acts occurring. The kid is now away from his home because he does not want to deal with the dysfunction and now they’re in the streets where crimes are being committed.

Work Cited:

Sullenger, T. E. "Juvenile Delinquency a Product of the Home". Journal of Criminal Law &Criminology. Volume 24. (1933-1934) 10/24/17