In pairs or groups, discuss the following questions.

1. What kind of youth crime is most common in your country?

2. Which city in your country is believed to be the most dangerous in terms of crimes?

3. What are the motives of those young who commit crime?

4. What is done by the local authorities to prevent youth crime?

Reading Activities

1. Read the text and answer the questions underneath. Youth crime

Until two years ago, Clearing, Illinois was a tranquil suburb of Chicago.

But residents grew alarmed when they noticed armed teenagers on the streets, giving gang signals and shouting at passing cars. Then came a series of burglaries and graffiti messages on storefronts. By the time local authorities realized they had a gang problem, it was too late.

Last December, two 13-year-old girls were shot outside their school as they sat in a car with two members of a local gang, the Ridgeway Lords. Nearly all 50 states have recently passed laws that allow youths aged 14-17 to be tried in court as adults. In about 25 states they have passed laws to punish parents for their children's behaviour. And in 146 of the nation's largest cities, they have imposed curfews to reduce juvenile violence. When you look at the spectacular rise of violent crime among young people recently, it's easy to understand the concern. Over the past decade, there has been a decline in adult murders in the US, while murder rates have surged for youths between 14-17.

For young offenders who aren't sent to prison, the punishments vary: some are ordered to perform community service, others are placed in job training programs, still others sent to youth prisons. But the Republicans in Congress want to reverse a basic principle of juvenile justice: the separation of young criminals from hardened adult criminals in prison. The reasons are partly financial - to reduce the cost of having separate prisons for young people - and partly psychological - to end what Republicans consider as society's overly protective attitude towards young criminals.

1. Where is Clearing located?

2. Why were residents unhappy?

3. What happened in December?

4. What are “the Ridgeway Lords?”

5. Young people cannot be tried in court in the most US states T/F

6. Parents are not responsible for what their children do T/F

7. What is a “curfew?”

8. There is an increase in…

9. What would the Republicans like to do?

10. This would cost less money…

2. Read the text and answer true/false questions under it. Juvenile Crime

Juvenile delinquency refers to antisocial or illegal behavior by children or adolescents and is considered a serious problem all over the world. It is caused by social, economic and cultural factors. This juvenile criminality is apparent in marginal sectors of urban areas where children are exposed to violence in their immediate social environment, either as observers or as victims. Because delinquents basic education, if they have any, is poor they have been marginalized from society and destitute of any dignity or self-esteem. Although most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with young criminals, such as juvenile detention centers and suppression, approaches to prevent youth from becoming delinquent should also include measures to instill equality and justice, fight poverty and create an atmosphere of hope and peace among youth. These preventive policies should be given priorities over any coercive measures.

Socioeconomic opportunities and administrative services should be provided in rural areas to discourage young people from migrating to urban areas. Similarly, youth from poor urban settings should benefit from plans that focus on education, employment and access to leisure programs, especially during long school holidays. Young people who drop out of school or come from broken families should have access to specific social programs that help them become responsible adults.

Information campaigns should be planned to sensitize youth to be aware of the detrimental effects of violence on the family, community and society, to teach them how to communicate without violence. Focus on the importance of family should become a priority because it is the primary institution of socialization of youth and continues to play an important role in the prevention of juvenile delinquency and underage crime.

1. Juvenile crime is affected by economic factors  T/F

2. Migration might be another cause of juvenile criminality  T/F

3. Family is not an important factor when dealing with juvenile criminality T/F

4. Suppression is not an option when dealing with juvenile criminality T/F