Early Childhood Behavior and Criminal Justice System Screening of Persistent Offenders

Introduction

Behavior in the early years plays a significant role in shaping adult life patterns. The ability of the criminal justice system to identify persistent offenders at a young age can create a positive shift in society and prevent teenagers from leaping into a lifelong criminal career.

Identifying and Preventing Crime Among Youth

To identify persistent offenders, the criminal justice system needs to develop efficient strategies to distinguish the social and personal factors that may lead to criminal behavior. Siegel (2020) indicates that life course persisters may begin antisocial behavior resulting from “the effects of abnormal traits, such as neurological deficits, with severe family dysfunction” (para. 9). In addition, poverty, low social status, and peer influence are also risk factors for offending, according to Farrington (2019). To identify the early-onset problematic youngster, the justice system is required to create screening systems in schools and community organizations, which will provide data about the adolescent’s mental health, interactions with society, and the situation in a family.

Identifying the causes of antisocial behavior enables the criminal justice system to develop effective social initiatives to prevent crime at a young age. According to Siegel, the most successful programs are grounded in enhancing social-emotional intelligence, which will help to maintain less aggressive behavior. In cases of poor parental control, the youngster needs another positive role model, such as a supportive teacher who is well educated to work with at-risk children. Siegel indicates that “an after-school component, and a parent-involvement component” are important factors of an effective social project, as problematic young people need more attention than the school can provide (para. 9).

Conclusion

In conclusion, to prevent more children from criminal careers, the criminal justice system needs to continuously work on screening programs at schools and social organizations to identify troubled adolescents. Social initiatives that effectively address identified issues create a better future for at-risk teenagers.

References

Farrington, D.P. (2019). Childhood risk and protective factors for early desisters, late desisters and life-course persistent offenders. Revista Española de Investigación Criminológica. 17, 1–33.

Siegel, L. J. (2020). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and Typologies (13th edition). Cengage Learning.