Examples Of The Strong African American Juvenile Delinquency
In criminology it is imperative to consider all aspects as to why people commit crime, and how crime should be handled and prevented. There have been several theories surfacing and explained over the years as criminologists seek the most prevalent solutions to ultimately reduce the rate of crime. Juvenile delinquency, which was once at an all time high in America, is now at a low. However, low remains too high and by implementing early intervention may effectively reduce crime levels. This paper will briefly describe the Strong African American Family program, its effectiveness, explore differential association theory and social bonding and control theory to explain its effectives, and last provide a recommendation of why the program should
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be implanted here in Arizona.
Strong African American Families Program (SAAF) is an interactive family and preventative intervention program designed and focused on rebuilding and strengthening rural African American family bonds (Brody et al., 2006). According to the Office of Justice program description (2014), “its targeted population is African American families with children of the ages 10-14 years of age”(para. 3). It consists of a consecutive seven-week course of family counseling sessions provided in portions that consist of large groups, which include the counselor and family, and also in secluded sessions that consist of youth-only and parent/caregiver-only (Brody et al., 2006). In these sessions, caregivers are coached on how to improve on parenting skills and children are geared with preventative delinquent behavior and substance abuse tools to deter them from exposure to early and future adversity (Brody et al., 2006). The program’s foundation is rooted on regulated-commutative parenting and youth protective factors, which is based on a variety of parenting processes linked to psychological adjustment, substance use and high-risk behavior in rural African American adolescent children. The program asserts that it is early childhood experiences that exert a strong influence in the shaping of adolescence, they begin to gain control over their behaviors, formulating relationships, and become aware as well as form their own opinions on substances. SAAF believes that enhancing and strengthening child and parent relationships will deter juvenile delinquency that is prominent in rural African American youth (Brody et al., 2006).
The effectiveness of this program relied on a cluster randomized prevention study that continued on for ten years plus (Brody et al., 2006). The study was conducted at the University of Georgia and Iowa State University, and was developed by leader Dr. Virginia Molgaard of Iowa State (Center for Family Research, 2014). The participants consisted of mostly African American mothers and their 11- year-old children. 521 families were randomly recruited from the nation’s top nine counties with the highest rates of poverty all residing in the state of Georgia. Only 332 of those selected families completed the pretest. Of those randomly chosen two groups were created. One group was recognized as the control group had four counties that included 150 families, while the other group consisted of 182 families and was recognized as the intervention counties (Brody et al., 2006). Brody and her colleagues’ (2006) study reported that families in both groups completed a pretest one month prior to SAFF program and a posttest three months after the completion of the program, followed by a long-term follow up twenty-two moths later (only completed by the youths).
According to the pre-test reports, both groups initially were equal on social standards, however the control group usually consisted of more families, thus expressing more negative attitudes towards at risk behaviors. While at the post-test, the intervention group reported to have been more likely to express attentive parenting then those of the control group. The Youth’s intervention group also surpassed the control group with a positive outcome of reporting more changes in parenting behavior. Furthermore, youths in the intervention group were reported to be less likely to be involved in risk behaviors and more likely to have protective factors. According to Brody and colleagues (2006), the study found that overall, “ mothers in the treatment group reported more communicative parenting and that the targeted children had more protective factors. Additional analyses revealed that parents who attended more than five classes had greater changes in their parenting styles and in their children’s’ risk behaviors”(para. 4).
As a society, we would like to believe that predominantly all children are socially compliant and are receiving a pretty decent upbringing, however, this is in fact not the case.
There are so many children world wide exposed to parental instability and adverse early experiences that make them more vulnerable to long-term deviancy. The SAAF program has the potential to possibly lower African American juvenile delinquency and prevent long-term deviant behavior by implementing theoretical mechanisms of differential association theory and social bonding and control theory. Studies have consistently supported that there is a correlation between parental instability and juvenile delinquency in all cases. However, there seems to be a higher impact among African American adolescents. According to Edwin Sutherland’s theory (1947), deviant behavior is a result of a process of social learning, in which criminal definitions are learned either favorably or unfavorably, which is usually in many cases a matter of culture conflict (Matsueda and Heimer, …show more content…
1987). The SAAF program is potentially reinforcing positive behaviors by providing the parents with adequate parenting practices such as discipline strategies, articulating child expectations, teaching parents how advocate acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, and by promoting positive racial socialization.
According to Matsueda and Heimer (1987), the more occurrences, and longer durations of positive reinforcement of acceptable definitions from prestigious sources such as the parents, will most likely have a greater impact on the child. Furthermore, the SAAF program is strengthening social bonds by in many cases creating and mending parent and child relationships. Research by Matsueda and Heimer (1987) supports that Hirschi’s (1969) social control theory suggests that most individuals refrain from crime because of their strong social bonds to society; such as attachments, commitments, involvement, and belief. SAAF is strengthening the families attachment bond by mending and/or creating relationships within African American families. SAAF is establishing an effort of commitment. The greater the investment of time, the more likely the parent will actually practice the learned skills, and the more likely the child will refrain from criminal acts. By requiring the families that volunteered for the study to physically attend sessions at a facility, SAAF promoted voluntary involvement, which also deters their availability to become involved in juvenile delinquent activities. Then
there is the ultimate bond of belief, by instilling the simple intervention of positive practices and defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors at an early age, SAAF is affording young African American rural children the opportunity to be molded by their bonding experiences. This will most likely have a strong impact on their adolescence and decrease their likelihood of substance use.
According to Brody and her colleagues (2006) the SAAF program is effective and as a result of its effectiveness Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, Iowa and Washington, DC., have also adopted the programs curriculum (Center for Family Research, 2014). At this point and time in society, both intervention and prevention are much needed. Although, African Americans as of 2013 only accounts for 4.6% of Arizona’s population, the Hispanic population makes up 30.3% (U.S. Census, 2014, para.19). According to Massey (1990) and the U.S. Census (2000), “Mexican-Americans comprise 28% of Phoenix's urban population (only 5% of Phoenix residents are African-American), but tend to be clustered in poor, crime-ridden neighborhoods due to economic necessity, chain migration and patterns of ethnic segregation” (as cited by Kulis et al., 2007). Due to the low population of African Americans, and the high population of Hispanics in Arizona, the program would be more beneficial if aimed towards minorities in general. The outcome of implementing the program should be just as effective if not more, due to the fact that the African American and Hispanic domestic variables are quite similar. By implementing the curriculum of the SAAF program, the Arizona will advocate their care and support of its minority youth. It is imperative that as a society (nationwide) we uphold our youth’s best interest at our highest priority. Not only would it positively impact the minority population but the State as well. Even if the program is only effective to half of it participants, our efforts will not be in vein. Whether we realize it or not, we are all affected by juvenile crime and substance abuse. Overall, the state of Arizona could benefit from implementing this program by targeting it towards minority populations.
Furthermore, (private) prisons in Arizona have become a booming business. If we are willing to spend little funds on resources to equip our children for success and spend more on prisons, what kind of message are we sending? The same questions stands for this country. Any program showing positive results by targeting risk factors that might lead to crime should be promoted. SAAF is obviously effective and is supported by a study as evidence. Although it is a minor program, its efforts that have impacted the families who participated in the program are dominant. By implementing theoretical mechanisms of differential association theory and social bonding and control theory the SAAF program’s potential to possibly lower African American and minority juvenile delinquency and possibly reduce the level of long-term crime is higher than it would be if we didn’t try at all.
be implanted here in Arizona.
Strong African American Families Program (SAAF) is an interactive family and preventative intervention program designed and focused on rebuilding and strengthening rural African American family bonds (Brody et al., 2006). According to the Office of Justice program description (2014), “its targeted population is African American families with children of the ages 10-14 years of age”(para. 3). It consists of a consecutive seven-week course of family counseling sessions provided in portions that consist of large groups, which include the counselor and family, and also in secluded sessions that consist of youth-only and parent/caregiver-only (Brody et al., 2006). In these sessions, caregivers are coached on how to improve on parenting skills and children are geared with preventative delinquent behavior and substance abuse tools to deter them from exposure to early and future adversity (Brody et al., 2006). The program’s foundation is rooted on regulated-commutative parenting and youth protective factors, which is based on a variety of parenting processes linked to psychological adjustment, substance use and high-risk behavior in rural African American adolescent children. The program asserts that it is early childhood experiences that exert a strong influence in the shaping of adolescence, they begin to gain control over their behaviors, formulating relationships, and become aware as well as form their own opinions on substances. SAAF believes that enhancing and strengthening child and parent relationships will deter juvenile delinquency that is prominent in rural African American youth (Brody et al., 2006).
The effectiveness of this program relied on a cluster randomized prevention study that continued on for ten years plus (Brody et al., 2006). The study was conducted at the University of Georgia and Iowa State University, and was developed by leader Dr. Virginia Molgaard of Iowa State (Center for Family Research, 2014). The participants consisted of mostly African American mothers and their 11- year-old children. 521 families were randomly recruited from the nation’s top nine counties with the highest rates of poverty all residing in the state of Georgia. Only 332 of those selected families completed the pretest. Of those randomly chosen two groups were created. One group was recognized as the control group had four counties that included 150 families, while the other group consisted of 182 families and was recognized as the intervention counties (Brody et al., 2006). Brody and her colleagues’ (2006) study reported that families in both groups completed a pretest one month prior to SAFF program and a posttest three months after the completion of the program, followed by a long-term follow up twenty-two moths later (only completed by the youths).
According to the pre-test reports, both groups initially were equal on social standards, however the control group usually consisted of more families, thus expressing more negative attitudes towards at risk behaviors. While at the post-test, the intervention group reported to have been more likely to express attentive parenting then those of the control group. The Youth’s intervention group also surpassed the control group with a positive outcome of reporting more changes in parenting behavior. Furthermore, youths in the intervention group were reported to be less likely to be involved in risk behaviors and more likely to have protective factors. According to Brody and colleagues (2006), the study found that overall, “ mothers in the treatment group reported more communicative parenting and that the targeted children had more protective factors. Additional analyses revealed that parents who attended more than five classes had greater changes in their parenting styles and in their children’s’ risk behaviors”(para. 4).
As a society, we would like to believe that predominantly all children are socially compliant and are receiving a pretty decent upbringing, however, this is in fact not the case.
There are so many children world wide exposed to parental instability and adverse early experiences that make them more vulnerable to long-term deviancy. The SAAF program has the potential to possibly lower African American juvenile delinquency and prevent long-term deviant behavior by implementing theoretical mechanisms of differential association theory and social bonding and control theory. Studies have consistently supported that there is a correlation between parental instability and juvenile delinquency in all cases. However, there seems to be a higher impact among African American adolescents. According to Edwin Sutherland’s theory (1947), deviant behavior is a result of a process of social learning, in which criminal definitions are learned either favorably or unfavorably, which is usually in many cases a matter of culture conflict (Matsueda and Heimer, …show more content…
1987). The SAAF program is potentially reinforcing positive behaviors by providing the parents with adequate parenting practices such as discipline strategies, articulating child expectations, teaching parents how advocate acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, and by promoting positive racial socialization.
According to Matsueda and Heimer (1987), the more occurrences, and longer durations of positive reinforcement of acceptable definitions from prestigious sources such as the parents, will most likely have a greater impact on the child. Furthermore, the SAAF program is strengthening social bonds by in many cases creating and mending parent and child relationships. Research by Matsueda and Heimer (1987) supports that Hirschi’s (1969) social control theory suggests that most individuals refrain from crime because of their strong social bonds to society; such as attachments, commitments, involvement, and belief. SAAF is strengthening the families attachment bond by mending and/or creating relationships within African American families. SAAF is establishing an effort of commitment. The greater the investment of time, the more likely the parent will actually practice the learned skills, and the more likely the child will refrain from criminal acts. By requiring the families that volunteered for the study to physically attend sessions at a facility, SAAF promoted voluntary involvement, which also deters their availability to become involved in juvenile delinquent activities. Then
there is the ultimate bond of belief, by instilling the simple intervention of positive practices and defining acceptable and unacceptable behaviors at an early age, SAAF is affording young African American rural children the opportunity to be molded by their bonding experiences. This will most likely have a strong impact on their adolescence and decrease their likelihood of substance use.
According to Brody and her colleagues (2006) the SAAF program is effective and as a result of its effectiveness Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, Iowa and Washington, DC., have also adopted the programs curriculum (Center for Family Research, 2014). At this point and time in society, both intervention and prevention are much needed. Although, African Americans as of 2013 only accounts for 4.6% of Arizona’s population, the Hispanic population makes up 30.3% (U.S. Census, 2014, para.19). According to Massey (1990) and the U.S. Census (2000), “Mexican-Americans comprise 28% of Phoenix's urban population (only 5% of Phoenix residents are African-American), but tend to be clustered in poor, crime-ridden neighborhoods due to economic necessity, chain migration and patterns of ethnic segregation” (as cited by Kulis et al., 2007). Due to the low population of African Americans, and the high population of Hispanics in Arizona, the program would be more beneficial if aimed towards minorities in general. The outcome of implementing the program should be just as effective if not more, due to the fact that the African American and Hispanic domestic variables are quite similar. By implementing the curriculum of the SAAF program, the Arizona will advocate their care and support of its minority youth. It is imperative that as a society (nationwide) we uphold our youth’s best interest at our highest priority. Not only would it positively impact the minority population but the State as well. Even if the program is only effective to half of it participants, our efforts will not be in vein. Whether we realize it or not, we are all affected by juvenile crime and substance abuse. Overall, the state of Arizona could benefit from implementing this program by targeting it towards minority populations.
Furthermore, (private) prisons in Arizona have become a booming business. If we are willing to spend little funds on resources to equip our children for success and spend more on prisons, what kind of message are we sending? The same questions stands for this country. Any program showing positive results by targeting risk factors that might lead to crime should be promoted. SAAF is obviously effective and is supported by a study as evidence. Although it is a minor program, its efforts that have impacted the families who participated in the program are dominant. By implementing theoretical mechanisms of differential association theory and social bonding and control theory the SAAF program’s potential to possibly lower African American and minority juvenile delinquency and possibly reduce the level of long-term crime is higher than it would be if we didn’t try at all.