Parents always want the best for their children. No parent is perfect, but almost every mother and father hope against hope that they have raised their kids to become good people. One of the worst fears a parent can have is that their child will enter a life of crime.
Whether you are a concerned parent, teacher or relative, it is important to know how a child can become susceptible to crime, especially violent ones. Knowing how to identify these risks might help us avoid them altogether and ensure that our children don’t fall prey to a cycle of crime and violence.
But explaining why someone commits a crime is a very complex issue, and it has much to do with the environment in which they are raised. Some of these factors might be under a parent’s control, while others are sad realities of a world shaped by exposure to violence in communities or schools.
Violence Begets Violence
Children who are exposed to violence are more likely to become violent. Children may, consciously or not, come to believe that violence is the only way to express anger or frustration. Violent activity might result from many other factors, such as bullying, abuse, neglect or involvement with violent friends.
Statistics from the Department of Justice shed light on the impact of exposure to violence on young people:
- A child’s exposure to violence increases the possibility of that child’s later abusing drugs and alcohol or becoming involved in criminal behavior.
- 40 percent of children in the United States have been the victim of two or more acts of violence.
- Children have a higher chance of witnessing violence than adults.
- 60 percent of children in the United States have been exposed to violence. This exposure occurs in homes, schools and communities.
The Role of a Broken Home
Several studies have shown that children who grow up in single-parent homes are more likely to be involved in a life of crime. But it should be noted that the conclusions drawn in those studies are complex. In many ways, the issue stems less from how mothers raise their children and more from how society unfairly treats single mothers.
Many single-parent homes struggle with deeper societal challenges, including difficulty finding affordable housing and greater financial instability. They are more likely than others to face eviction and, thus, displacement, homelessness and poverty, all of which could impact the exposure of their children to violence.
The Backwards Effect of Incarceration on Crime
One of the primary goals of jails or detention centers, at least in theory, is to reduce crime rates and reform people who have committed crimes. Of course, anyone familiar with the flaws of our criminal justice system knows that the current system does a very poor job of reforming inmates. But perhaps an even more troubling issue is how incarcerating young people might increase their likelihood of committing a crime later in life.
One study found that children who were incarcerated for committing a crime were 67 percent more likely to be jailed again by the age of 25 than young people who were not incarcerated after committing a crime.
There are many factors that determine how likely a person will be to commit crime at some point in their lives. The topic is the subject of many surveys, studies and well-researched books, and there is plenty of material available to parents who want to dig deeper. Hopefully, these points will provide a good frame of reference for those hoping to gain a deeper understanding of why people resort to crime.
If you (or a loved one) have been arrested in Kentucky or in the Lexington area in particular, call my office at (859) 685-1055 for a free consultation. Our lawyers specialize in helping defendants fight back on assault charges, misdemeanors, domestic violence, property crimes, drug charges and more, call today.