Analyse The Impact Of Social And Economic Factors On Youth Crime
Introduction
The prevention of juvenile crime, alcohol and drug abuse and how best to intervene to predict and ameliorate the life choices of many young and vulnerable members of the population are very vital in building positive community development. The social and economic factors influence crime trends over the longer term while other factors such as changes in the percentage of young males in the population may mask the effect over the short term. Given the increased numbers of young people who will be exposed to serious disadvantage in the coming years, it makes sense that effort to address social and economic problems take priority. Conversely, because amendments to young offender legislation cannot address factors most highly correlated to youth crime, it is unreasonable to expect that these changes will have any significant impact on youth crime rates.
What are Risk Factors? …show more content…
The main risk factors can be grouped into three broad areas: risk factors present in the child or young person, risk factors present in the family and risk factors in the environment or wider community.
Broadly defined, risk factors for the National Crime Prevention Council included such factors as: difficulty "personality" or temperament, problems caused by brain diseases or disorders, family violence, including verbal and emotional abuse and neglect, childhood traumas such as physical and sexual abuse, poor or ineffective parental supervisory and discipline skills, parental alcoholism or drug addiction. Failing in school truancy and other school problems, low socio-economic status, living in poverty. None of these factors can, in itself, be indicative of negative developments at a later stage in life. Only when several factors co-exist is the risk of serious criminality and health and welfare problems
increased.
ISSUE BACKGROUND
All youth in Toronto deserve the opportunity to pursue their goals, dreams and ambitions with access to the tools and supports to overcome the specific social, economic, academic, health, geographic and/or criminal justice system challenges they may face.
While many Toronto youth have the supports that allow them to live, learn, work and play in safe and nurturing environments, a segment of youth – particularly minority and racial zed youth – face significant challenges that leave them at risk of social and economic marginalization, exposed to an elevated risk of violence, victimization and criminal justice system involvement.1
Youth Worker Perspective
Temporarily Disconnected – For the vast majority of young people who become homeless, it is a short-term experience. Toro et al., (2011) identify this population as generally younger, and having more stable or redeemable relations with family members, and are more likely to remain in school. For this population, there is a strong need for prevention and early intervention to divert young people from the homelessness system.
Unstably Connected – This population of homeless youth has a more complicated housing history, and is likely to have longer and repeated episodes of homelessness. They are more likely to be disengaged from school, and will have challenges obtaining and maintaining employment. Most will have retained some level of connection with family members, and are less likely to experience serious mental health or addictions issues compared to chronically homeless youth.
Chronically Disconnected – In terms of numbers, this will be the smallest group of homeless youth, but at the same time the group with the most complex needs, and the users of the most resources in the youth homelessness sector. This group of young people will experience long term homelessness, repeated episodes, and will more likely have mental health and/or addictions issues. They will have the most unstable relations with their families, and in some cases there will be no connections at all (Gaetz, forthcoming).
Conclusion
To be effective helper in homeless youth –
Bibliography:
Youth Homelessness by Stephen Gaetz http://www.stthomasu.ca/research/youth/risk.htm http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-59536.pdf
The prevention of juvenile crime, alcohol and drug abuse and how best to intervene to predict and ameliorate the life choices of many young and vulnerable members of the population are very vital in building positive community development. The social and economic factors influence crime trends over the longer term while other factors such as changes in the percentage of young males in the population may mask the effect over the short term. Given the increased numbers of young people who will be exposed to serious disadvantage in the coming years, it makes sense that effort to address social and economic problems take priority. Conversely, because amendments to young offender legislation cannot address factors most highly correlated to youth crime, it is unreasonable to expect that these changes will have any significant impact on youth crime rates.
What are Risk Factors? …show more content…
The main risk factors can be grouped into three broad areas: risk factors present in the child or young person, risk factors present in the family and risk factors in the environment or wider community.
Broadly defined, risk factors for the National Crime Prevention Council included such factors as: difficulty "personality" or temperament, problems caused by brain diseases or disorders, family violence, including verbal and emotional abuse and neglect, childhood traumas such as physical and sexual abuse, poor or ineffective parental supervisory and discipline skills, parental alcoholism or drug addiction. Failing in school truancy and other school problems, low socio-economic status, living in poverty. None of these factors can, in itself, be indicative of negative developments at a later stage in life. Only when several factors co-exist is the risk of serious criminality and health and welfare problems
increased.
ISSUE BACKGROUND
All youth in Toronto deserve the opportunity to pursue their goals, dreams and ambitions with access to the tools and supports to overcome the specific social, economic, academic, health, geographic and/or criminal justice system challenges they may face.
While many Toronto youth have the supports that allow them to live, learn, work and play in safe and nurturing environments, a segment of youth – particularly minority and racial zed youth – face significant challenges that leave them at risk of social and economic marginalization, exposed to an elevated risk of violence, victimization and criminal justice system involvement.1
Youth Worker Perspective
Temporarily Disconnected – For the vast majority of young people who become homeless, it is a short-term experience. Toro et al., (2011) identify this population as generally younger, and having more stable or redeemable relations with family members, and are more likely to remain in school. For this population, there is a strong need for prevention and early intervention to divert young people from the homelessness system.
Unstably Connected – This population of homeless youth has a more complicated housing history, and is likely to have longer and repeated episodes of homelessness. They are more likely to be disengaged from school, and will have challenges obtaining and maintaining employment. Most will have retained some level of connection with family members, and are less likely to experience serious mental health or addictions issues compared to chronically homeless youth.
Chronically Disconnected – In terms of numbers, this will be the smallest group of homeless youth, but at the same time the group with the most complex needs, and the users of the most resources in the youth homelessness sector. This group of young people will experience long term homelessness, repeated episodes, and will more likely have mental health and/or addictions issues. They will have the most unstable relations with their families, and in some cases there will be no connections at all (Gaetz, forthcoming).
Conclusion
To be effective helper in homeless youth –
Bibliography:
Youth Homelessness by Stephen Gaetz http://www.stthomasu.ca/research/youth/risk.htm http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2013/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-59536.pdf