There is little doubt that a dysfunctional family perpetuates teenage criminals. But just how big a part does family structure play in a teen's decision to resort to criminal activity?
While there are certainly genetic and biological factors involved in the development of an adolescent's propensity towards committing crimes, environment also plays a key role in this arena. Young people from problematic backgrounds or especially difficult circumstances are not only more likely to participate in criminal activities, but are also more likely to continue their destructive activities to the point at which run-ins with the law become increasingly common. These dysfunctional lifestyles are most often associated with poverty, family disintegration, relocation, discrimination and boredom.
According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems are more likely to abuse alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. The study also revealed that adolescents who have tendencies toward substance abuse admitted to delinquent behaviors such as stealing, chronic truancy and hanging out with "a bad crowd". SAMHSA also reported that in general, these teens have poor peer and parental relationships, as well as trouble concentrating in school, or focusing attention on tasks involved in virtually every aspect of their lives
One of the most important aspects that must be addressed in relation to a dysfunctional background and its correlation to crime is an individual's understanding of himself and his emotions. Jealousy and envy, for instance, are overwhelming emotions that often drive adolescents (or any immature individual) to "thrill-seek" by participating in criminal activities. The desire to have what one cannot is amplified under these conditions, which is one of the primary causes of stealing. Jealousy and envy are such intense emotions; they color almost everything a person does, sees and feels while they are experiencing them. They distort a person's perception of reality and make him "mad at the world", which naturally leads to rebellion, and in many cases, crime. Envy is a particularly common emotion in teenagers; especially those from underprivileged, dysfunctional families. When individuals compare themselves to others, they most often see themselves as the ones coming up short. The "rush" that often accompanies getting away with a crime is frequently used to make up for these perceived inadequacies, which is an illogical yet vastly common reaction to the jealous competition and comparisons which are prevalent in dysfunctional families and the communities surrounding them.
Not surprisingly, children and teens who live on the street are at the highest risk of becoming criminals. In recent years, the epidemic of underage homelessness has continually gotten worse due to increasing family separations and conflict brought about by urbanization, economic crisis, political change, civil unrest, wars, as well as natural disasters and epidemics. Today, it is estimated that there are currently between ten and thirty million "street kids" in the world, and many of the elements which have contributed to the deterioration of the family suggest that the problem has and will continue to increase.
Many experts believe that the first step in reversing these devastating trends is to listen to the children. Millions of dollars a year are spent on researching criminal activity, and while the statistics we receive in return do serve a purpose, they are not nearly as influential towards changing negative patterns as listening to the what the individuals committing the crimes have to say. Developing an accurate assessment of youth crime prevention is an important and multifaceted aspect societal improvement. While there is more than one plausible explanation for youth crime, a dysfunctional background appears to be a prevalent factor in the majority of cases.
The key to unlocking the source of these negative behaviors is to encourage new, healthy behaviors, instead of self-defeating ones. This relies on the ability to reconstruct the past and examine all of the possible causes of the negative behavior being exhibited. Many times it will be revealed that some type of abuse, whether emotional, physical or sexual took place within the family setting. Thus, the importance of positive, quality relationships between family members is becoming more evident all the time. The task of successfully sorting out the effects of family dysfunction and subsequently guiding young people at high-risk for committing crimes towards a healthier, more productive life may seem overwhelming, but it is still an achievable goal. The scars left from being raised in a dysfunctional environment that lead a child to commit crimes can be healed as long as those concerned are willing to face the problem from an sympathetic rather than a condemnatory perspective.
