Family

1. Family The most important social institution

2. Family and Juvenile Delinquency • We see in social process theories the importance of social ties and the attitudes and values that flow through them. • A family consists of social processes. • Additionally, families determine what resources, neighborhoods, schools, churches, peer groups, and so on to which kids have access.

3. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Family Influence is Contact Dependent Delinquency goes up with: • Fewer Adults in Household • Less Contact with Parents (Working Parents?) Stay-at-home Working Mom • More Siblings in Household • Greater Outside Influence Dads’ recent trends

4. Problems with “Broken Homes” “Broken Homes” typically have less: Time Supervision Attachment & Interaction Besides, the act of “breaking up” is disruptive. How did you react in your last romantic break-up? (Kids will cope with family break up by acting out, running away, being truant, drinking, etc.) Family and Juvenile Delinquency Family Influence is Contact Dependent Delinquency goes up with: • Fewer Adults in Household • Less Contact with Parents (Working Parents?) • Stay-at-home Working Mom • More Siblings in Household • Greater Outside Influence

5. Family and Juvenile Delinquency “Broken Homes” and Delinquency: • Too many erroneously blame violation of “Natural Law” or loss of biological father for delinquency—boys have no role model idea • There are a constellation of problems that accompany family dissolution: • Economic Harm • Loss of a Supervisor • Weakens Ties to Conventional Others

6. Family and Juvenile Delinquency “Broken Homes” and Delinquency: • There are a constellation of problems that accompany family dissolution: • Economic Harm • Loss of a Supervisor • Weakens Ties to Multiple Conventional Others • School Problems *Higher Drop-out Rates *Less Time for Homework *Mobility Reduces Attachment to School • Police, Teachers, etc. are more Strict on Kids from Broken Homes

7. Family and Juvenile Delinquency “Broken Homes” and Delinquency: • Police, Teachers, etc. are more Strict on Kids from Broken Homes Factors that Cause Marital Breakup May also be Linked to Delinquency Family Problems Divorce Delinquency After all, parental death does not lead to delinquency. So… Should parents stay together for the sake of children?

8. Family and Juvenile Delinquency So… Should parents stay together for the sake of children? • No • Family Conflict Hurts Too Bad Families Promote Delinquency • Spousal Conflict • Fighting Families Conflict Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Misbehavior can Create Family Conflict that Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Conflict Erodes Bonds

9. Bad Families Promote Delinquency Spousal Conflict Fighting Families Conflict Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Misbehavior can Create Family Conflict that Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Conflict Erodes Bonds Deviant or Criminal Parents Reduces Conventional Supervision Increases Deviant Socialization Negligence (Physical and Emotional) Family and Juvenile Delinquency

10. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Bad Families Promote Delinquency • Spousal Conflict • Fighting Families Conflict Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Misbehavior can Create Family Conflict that Teaches/Allows Misbehavior Conflict Erodes Bonds • Deviant or Criminal Parents Reduces Conventional Supervision Increases Deviant Socialization • Negligence (Physical and Emotional)

11. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Sibling Effects? • Delinquent Siblings Increase Odds of Becoming Delinquent • Understudied • Children Socialize Each Other • Abusive Siblings are like Abusive Parents But Not a Moral Authority Not a model of adult behaviors Parental Permissiveness Condones Abuse

12. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Why are Foster Families Associated with Delinquency? • Kids may have been in trouble before. • Kids Already had problem families • Changes in Foster Families Interfere with Consistent Parental Support and Control • Large Families (Resource Dilution) • Lack of Empowerment for Foster Parents

13. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Since abuse leads to delinquency, let’s explore abuse… Causes of Child Abuse • History of Abuse (Learn kids should be treated badly) • Unrelated Adult in Household • Anti-Social, Isolated Families • Parents Misunderstanding Child’s Psychology • Social and Economic Stressors (Abuse Restores Power and Vents Aggression)

14. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Child Abuse • More Serious, Extended the Abuse, The More Subsequent Delinquency • Caretaker more Likely to Abuse (Women more Likely to Abuse)

15. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Child Abuse • More Serious, Extended the Abuse, The More Subsequent Delinquency • Caretaker more Likely to Abuse (Women more Likely to Abuse) • Sexual Abuse by Adults (Pryor’s Research): • Aggressor Defines Kids as Sexual • Blurs Society’s Line between Adults and Kids • Blurring is often Rooted in Sexual Victimization • Women are often Abusers

16. Family and Juvenile Delinquency 68% Re-arrest for any crime for non-sex offenders; 1.3% are arrested for a sex crime. (2.5% of rapists are re-arrested for rape, 1.2% of homicide offenders are re-arrested for murder again in 3 years) Any crime: 43, 46 & 41.5% Any Crime: 39.4 & 49.9% http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#recidivism Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994, BJS

17. Family and Juvenile Delinquency Child Abuse • Sexual Abuse: Problems with Secret Sex • Adults Break Rules • You can get away with Delinquency • Power Issues Teen Prostitution • Linked to Abuse (Runaways) • Learn of Adult Desire through Abuse • Conventional Options are Limited

18. Family and Juvenile Delinquency What is Good Parenting? • Parental Attachment Important (Support) • Open Communication—Engagement with Ideas, Values, and Behaviors Inside Child’s Head • Control • Should be Consistent • Not Lenient nor Strict • Should explain punishments • Corporal Punishment Legitimates Violence: Kids Learn that Physical Force Achieves One’s Desires