How to Deal Juvenile Justice System with Less Light Crimes?

Following the tragic killing of a woman in Melbourne, Victoria—who was reportedly robbed and then slaughtered by two teenage boys—over the weekend, a negative social phenomenon that has long been vigorously debated across Australia has been brought to the surface once again. Even though the total number of reported world juvenile crimes has been stable or even slightly declining over the last decade, robbery is one of the very few offences that show an exceptional increase. According to the Australian crime statistics of 2017, the age group that has the highest rate of robbery is “15-19-year-old” (Appendix 1) which records approximately 1000-1400 more offenders annually compared to the lowest group.

Therefore, it is important to thoroughly investigate the critical underlying causes of juvenile robbery, which can potentially assist in the reforming of governmental policies on treating young offenders. There are mainly three factors contributing to juvenile robbery, which hampers Australia’s growth: family financial crises, violent games and the failure to directly address the determinants behind criminal behaviors.

In the eyes of the law, youth robbery is usually differentiated from less serious crimes such as larceny by two fundamentals. First, in robbery, possessions are taken typically in connection with violence or a threat of violence by a person who is under the legal adult age. Secondly, it may be further classified according to the degree of force used or threatened. A jurisdiction might consider “robbery with aggravating circumstances” a more serious crime than an unarmed robbery. For example, when a teenager uses a gun or weapon to unlawfully and intentionally remove property belonging to another person (Australian Institute of Criminology,2008).

First and foremost, juvenile robbery rates are intensified due to the familial financial crises that commonly occur in most dysfunctional households. It is common sense to deduce that a shortage of money is the main driving force behind committing theft (Pia,2010). Recent economic crises have wreaked havoc on families across many countries, which can be an additional factor influencing juvenile robbery (FSU,2017). Developing countries are particularly challenged in this aspect because of the associated insecurity. For instance, in South Africa, a country in transition, 98.4 robberies were recorded per 1000 people.

Despite being a developed country, Australia’s concern about money has not abated, as shown by the survey published annually on the top causes of family stresses by the Australian Psychological Society. Coupled with the statistical evidence, Professor Abbott (2013) states: “The real cause of family instability is financial hardship” which emphasizes the impact of economics on family structure. It unequivocally provokes an increase in dysfunctional, broken and single-parent families, which are contributing to the escalation in the numbers of juveniles neglected by their parents or suffering from deprivation (Mouzos and Carcach,2008).

Research published by the Association for Psychological Science indicates that more than 50% of young robbery offenders from Perth responded that their families cannot afford the typical standard of life. Simultaneously, the majority of them are also saddled with an unusually high number of responsibilities for their age. It’s natural for teens to compare themselves with others, and when they perceive their friends to be more affluent and financially stable, they may start looking for ways to fit in. This can include seeking financial solutions. In regard to mental aspects, neglect and lack of affection can cause stress, resentment, and anger in young teens, potentially making them more prone to criminal behavior (Sullivan, 2014). In their eyes, committing robbery is an ideal choice because it not only allows them to vent their frustration but also to solve their family’s economic hardships. This situation suggests that family financial instability can increase the risk of teenagers turning to robbery due to emotional deprivation, contributing to the risk of dysfunctional families.

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