Parents Are to Blame for Juvenile Delinquency

Parents Are To Blame For Juvenile Delinquency Once a woman discovers the fact that she is pregnant and makes the choice to become a mother, she and the father have an obligation to provide a future for that unborn baby. Married or not, the child becomes the parents’ responsibility legally, emotionally, morally, and physically. Parents are signing an unwritten contract to protect and provide for their child, until the child is of age, to do so his or herself. Parenting does not come with a handbook; however, it is common sense to not physically, mentally, or emotionally abuse that child. Parent’s failing to provide support, love, education, and instill morals or values, hinders a child’s future, which can and does lead to delinquent, criminal behavior. Therefore, I blame the parents in our society for delinquent behavior and children should not be imprisoned, because their parents failed to follow through with their end of the unwritten contract. Neglect and/or abuse parents commit towards their child are the causes of juvenile delinquency which is defined as criminal acts committed by a child under the age of eighteen.
Juvenile Delinquency has been a social problem for decades. In fact, juvenile crime rates were the highest during the baby boomer and generation x generations. According to Jenson and Howard “… violent crime arrest rates increased 71percent between 1987 and 1994” (324). However, even though rates have decreased in today’s society, they still remain, and that is a problem. Crime is more complex and not limited to just certain areas anymore, as it was in the previous generations. Juvenile Delinquency is very common and is, in my opinion, very preventable. Parents need to start taking responsibility for their children. In a perfect world, all parents love their children and would never cause even the slightest bit of harm to them, but we do not live in a perfect world, now do we? Children are killing other children, bringing guns to