Searching for the roots of juvenile delinquency. An integrated approach

Abstract

    The author attempts to delve into the roots that fuel juvenile delinquent behavior. In doing so, he provides a brief overview of the main theories on juvenile delinquency, including theories on critical criminology, and integrates them into a unified interpretative framework. The axes of this unified scheme include the individual characteristics of the offender, his family environment, the school and peer environment, and, finally, the broader values and institutional conditions of a society.

     Moreover, he believes that these conditions, as a "permeating atmosphere," diffuse within the institutions of society and significantly influence them. He also maintains that In case that these conditions are governed by utilitarian perceptions of quick and flawless success on a personal and professional level, they may lead to the search for ways and methods to overcome any obstacles beyond legitimate and lawful paths, thereby pushing young people towards delinquency.