Introduction
The engagement in crime by children whether in schools or communities has a negative influence on safety, the well-being of others, and the academic performance of such learners. In modern times, young children from as early as 10 years are forming school gangs that are notorious for interrupting serenity and security within learning centers and in the surrounding communities thus leaving other people in terror. In the United States, the most dangerous school gangs are in areas such as Los Angeles and New York. However, school gangs and other crimes by children occur in every country across the globe. The involvement of children in crime cuts across all socio-economic settings regardless of sex, age, religion, ethnicity, monetary position, and level of education (Nisar et al. 37-45). Some people argue that parents should be held responsible for the crimes of their children. On the other hand, critics affirm that different socio-economic aspects are to blame for the crimes of children. In the past two decades, the engagement of children in crime has been on the rise, increasing both in membership and scale of operation, which calls for rapid intervention to save the situation.
Main body
Parents should not be held responsible for the crimes of their children. In the contemporary world, school-going children of different socio-economic, religious, and cultural backgrounds have progressively been involved in criminal activities, for instance, joining gangs where they are engaging in such practices as drug abuse and burglary to mention a few. The specific rationales behind children taking part in crime vary but generally include social and economic factors. Recognition, power, peer influence, financial benefits, substance abuse, and need to feel secure are some of the aspects that result in children engaging in criminal activities (Nisar et al. 40-45). Since gangs formed by children engage in criminal conduct that jeopardizes the life and welfare of the members, in addition to other people within the community, there is a need for valuable solutions.
A wide pool of studies asserts that parents ought to be held responsible for the crimes of their children (Pinquart 873-876; Botchkovar et al. 133-137). Poor parenting results in children who have a feeling of being cut off, segregated, neglected, and misunderstood by their parents and other members of the family. In this regard, the children have no alternative but to befriend criminal peers who offer them a sense of companionship (Botchkovar et al. 133-140). Vulnerability to ill-treatment and hostility from peers may compel children to join criminal gangs in search of protection and camaraderie when they feel that they cannot confide in their parents. On the same note, children who are already entangled in substance abuse and economic hardships are often attracted by the resources that gangs offer to their members.
Conclusion
In the modern world, young children from as early as ten years are creating and joining school gangs that are notorious for interrupting tranquility and security within learning institutions and in the surrounding communities. The engagement of children in crime cuts across every socio-economic setting regardless of age, religion, race, sex, monetary position, and educational level. Though parental accountability is contentious, there is sufficient proof to ascertain that parents should be held responsible for the crimes of their children. It is imperative for schools, parents, and other stakeholders to work together in the prevention and eradication of bad company in an attempt of thwarting the negative behavior they inculcate in children.
Works Cited
Botchkovar, Ekaterina, et al. “The Importance of Parenting in the Development of Self-Control in Boys and Girls: Results from a Multinational Study of Youth.” Journal of Criminal Justice, vol. 43, no. 2, 2015, pp. 133-141.
Nisar, Muhammad, et al. “Juvenile Delinquency: The Influence of Family, Peer and Economic Factors on Juvenile Delinquents.” Applied Science Reports, vol. 9, no. 1, 2015, pp. 37-48.
Pinquart, Martin. “Associations of Parenting Dimensions and Styles with Externalizing Problems of Children and Adolescents: An Updated Meta-Analysis.” Developmental Psychology, vol. 53, no. 5, 2017, pp. 873-932.