risk factors associated with juvenile deliquency

STEP 1: Find an article in the print media (magazines, newspapers, books), broadcast media (TV, radio), and or Internet (podcasts, YouTube) involving a crime that has been committed by an offender under the age of 18 years of age. The article should contain considerable details regarding the crime, not just that a crime was committed.
 
STEP 2: Consider and analyze the risk factors that may have contributed to the delinquent behavior.  These factors include but are not limited to the following domains:
 

EMPLOYMENT: The role of work in the offender’s life.

(As this assignment deals with minors, consider the employment of the minor’s primary care provider such as the care provider’s inability to earn sufficient salary to live on, having difficulty with co-workers and/or superiors, educational deficiencies [including intelligence, learning disabilities], and vocational skills].)

SUBSTANCE ABUSE: An offender’s problems, if any, with alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and with any prior treatment programs.

(Substance abuse, the extent to which alcohol or other drugs interfered with the offender’s pro-social experiences [such as marital/family relations, employment, and social situations], and information about prior substance abuse treatment.)

MARITAL/FAMILY: An offender’s family relationships.

(Relationships with parents and siblings, absence of parents, history of family abuse and/or criminality, marital history, dependents, parenting skills, and involvement in child abuse.)

ASSOCIATES/SOCIAL INTERACTION: The characteristics and qualities of the offender’s interactions with others, particularly the offender’s peer group(s).

(Anti-social associates and interaction patterns are of special interest. Needs indicators include the extent to which the offender interacts with and is influenced by others with a pro-criminal lifestyle, gang membership, etc.)

COMMUNITY FUNCTIONING: The offender’s capability for functioning adequately in the community.

(Stable, well-maintained place of residence, health, hygiene and nutrition, financial management skills, appropriate leisure time activities, and awareness of available social assistance programs.)

PERSONAL/EMOTIONAL ORIENTATION: Personal and emotional need factors that have been shown to be predictive of criminal and recidivistic behavior.

(This dimension includes needs that fall into three major categories:

Cognitive Defects; i.e., problem-solving, inter-personal relationship skills, inability to understand the feelings of others, and narrow, rigid thinking.
Behavioral Problems; i.e., behaviors likely to result in negative consequences, such as impulsivity, risk-taking, aggression, anger, frustration tolerance and gambling.
Personal Characteristics; i.e., characteristics that may increase the likelihood the offender will be involved in criminal behavior (personality dispositions, behavioral preferences, such as inappropriate sexual attitudes or preferences, and mental status characteristics.)

G. ATTITUDE: The characteristics and extent of the offender’s pro-social and anti-social attitudes.
(Favorable attitudes toward crime and violence and minimization of the impacts of criminal behavior and disregard for convention, the justice system, and the rights of others.)
 
STEP 3: Conclude your presentation by discussing what you believe to be the strongest risk factor causing the delinquent behavior, and why? 
 
STEP 4:  Discuss preventive actions that could have been taken by the family, community, police, school or justice system to prevent the delinquent action.
(Your presentation should consider crime preventive organizations and actions currently in effect in any state with the U.S.)
 
Explain why you believe your noted preemptive action would have been effective in your cited case.