Juvenile Delinquency Theory
This case is examined from a juvenile delinquency theories aspect. The overall case deals with an eleven years old girl of the name Mary Bell. Mary was known throughout her town of Scotswood, a community located in the north of London in England. It was 1968, when the body of four-year-old Martin Brown’s body was discovered inside of an abandoned boarded up house. At first, the death of Martin was rolled out to be an accident. A couple weeks later, three-year-old Brain Howe lifeless body was found near a known area where children played. Brain was strangled to death with various of wounds such as puncture marks located on his thighs and as well his genitals were partially mutilates. The letter “M” the initial of Mary were found engraved in
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At age 11, she was convicted in December 1968, for the manslaughter of the two young boys, Martin Brown age 4 and Brain Howe age 3. Having been deprived off the traditional family love even way before birth and growing up in an unhealthy environment where violence was part as a daily activity, it was evident that it resulted in psychological trouble. The case of Mary shows relation to the Social learning theory and as well to psychological theory. According to the textbook Delinquency in Society under the psychological theory it states that “Some criminologists also believes the cause of delinquency is psychological. After all, many delinquents live in dysfunctional homes often find themselves in conflict with the family members, neighbors, peers, classmates, and teachers.” The psychological theory relates to the case of Mary Bell. Mary mother Betty turned to prostitution as a source of income to supporting her family. As a result, Mary suffered a lot as growing up and as consequence she was introduced to violent activity. She grew up in a home where domestic violence and sexual abuse was a day-to-day basis. Having been raise in such cruel environment caused her to believe it was okay for herself to commit those types of acts. It was reported that she showed acts of violence, for example she had attacked several young children from the neighborhood, but no one paid attention to her or her violent outbursts. Mary was violent throughout all her childhood, with no punishment towards her
At age 11, she was convicted in December 1968, for the manslaughter of the two young boys, Martin Brown age 4 and Brain Howe age 3. Having been deprived off the traditional family love even way before birth and growing up in an unhealthy environment where violence was part as a daily activity, it was evident that it resulted in psychological trouble. The case of Mary shows relation to the Social learning theory and as well to psychological theory. According to the textbook Delinquency in Society under the psychological theory it states that “Some criminologists also believes the cause of delinquency is psychological. After all, many delinquents live in dysfunctional homes often find themselves in conflict with the family members, neighbors, peers, classmates, and teachers.” The psychological theory relates to the case of Mary Bell. Mary mother Betty turned to prostitution as a source of income to supporting her family. As a result, Mary suffered a lot as growing up and as consequence she was introduced to violent activity. She grew up in a home where domestic violence and sexual abuse was a day-to-day basis. Having been raise in such cruel environment caused her to believe it was okay for herself to commit those types of acts. It was reported that she showed acts of violence, for example she had attacked several young children from the neighborhood, but no one paid attention to her or her violent outbursts. Mary was violent throughout all her childhood, with no punishment towards her