Sociology

Juvenile delinquency is a case where an individual below the majority age is involved in criminal activities. In most legal systems, there are special criminal justice systems which are designated to handle cases of juvenile delinquency. Criminologists have developed various theories to explain the causes of juvenile delinquency. This is because the issue of young people being involved in serious crimes is a major concern in the United States and the whole world. Juvenile delinquency has been in the news since the mid 20th century and has been a center of interest among the political leaders, sociologists, criminologists and the judicial systems. The theories developed to explain criminal acts among the youths have been instrumental to criminologists dealing with juvenile crimes. These theories are also useful in dealing with crimes among the adult population because most of the hardened criminals started their criminal activities with minor crimes when they were 15 to 25 years of age (Case  Haines, 2009).

By community members and all stakeholders understanding the causes of juvenile delinquency, it is possible to develop strategies that prevent criminal behaviors among the young people. It is also possible to devise rehabilitation programs for the juvenile offenders by understanding the mechanism that resulted into the criminal behaviors. Juvenile delinquency theories include the social learning theory, trait theory, rational choice theory and the biosocial theory.

Social learning theory
Social learning theory is also called the differential association theory. According to this theory, young people learn to commit crimes through association with other criminals that may exist in the society. Peer pressure and influence from established criminal gang may influence a young person into committing crime. Criminal behaviors are learnt through reinforcement or observation of others committing crimes in the environment. The link between social learning theory and juvenile delinquency was first suggested by Akers and Burguss in 1966 who sought to explain the factors that cause deviance among the young people (Champion, 2004).

The theory suggest that juvenile are influenced by a criminal community by reinforcement, instilling beliefs and values that favor criminal acts and expose them to different models of crimes. This gives them a view point that criminal acts are desirable and can be justified in some situations. The social learning theory of juvenile delinquency suggests that young people learn undesirable behaviors through the same process they learn desirable behaviors. Good and bad behaviors among the young people are learnt through association with other members of the society. Intimate associates such as the family members and the peers have the greatest impact on the behaviors of a young person. A juvenile who associates with delinquent juveniles or criminals is more likely to develop criminal behaviors. It should however be clear that an individual does not necessarily need to have direct association with others to be influenced by their behaviors. There are cases where juveniles learn criminal behaviors and violent acts from the mass media.

Young people are more likely to develop criminal behaviors if there are more frequent reinforcement compared to punishments. If the reinforcement is too much and punishment too little or the society reinforce criminal behaviors than other good behaviors. Other than reinforcement, the belief that criminal acts are favorable may result in the development of criminal behaviors among the young people. In the same way people are taught to belief that criminal act are bad, individuals can also be taught to approve criminal acts. Delinquency among the youth is also a function of those around the individual. Youths are fond of imitating individuals they like. If this individual is a criminal, the youth is likely to imitate the criminal behaviors and end up being a criminal (Siegel  Welsh, 2008).

Other theories of juvenile delinquency
Another theory that explains juvenile delinquency is the rational choice theory. Many sociologists have argued that this theory explains causes of criminal behavior more effectively than other theories. The theory is based on the belief that even juveniles have a free will to choose any course of action. He or she therefore commits a crime after considering the consequences and possible benefits derived from the actions. Trait theory on the other hand suggests that juvenile delinquency is as a result of the youth being exposed to brutality from family members or peers. Brutalization of a child at a young age will most likely lead to violent behaviors later in life. Biosocial theories suggest that juveniles who commit crimes are biologically liable to commit crimes. They state that criminal behaviors are as a result of genetic factors and inherited biochemicals which are passed from parents to their offsprings (Siegel  Welsh, 2008).

Conclusion
Juvenile has been a major issue among criminologists which led to the development of theories to explain why young people involve themselves in criminal activities. Social learning theory is the most dominant theory that explains criminal behaviors among the young people as well as the adults. Statistics indicates that close associates have big impacts on the behaviors of individuals where many juvenile offenders are associated with criminal associates.