Preventing Youth Crime

Risk Factors

Young people get into trouble with the law for a variety of reasons.  Many youth are put at greater risk of participating in criminal activity because of factors like their family situation, their school environment, or the kids they hang out with.  Such “risk factors” often work together to increase chances that a youth will get into trouble. The more risk factors in a youth’s life, the greater the chance they will come into conflict with the law.  The following is not a complete list, but it does describe some warning signs that signal a young person is at risk.

“Risk factors”, according to The National Crime Prevention Council, are experiences in a young person’s life that increase the chances of a youth being victimized or of developing one or more behaviour problems.

Poverty
Peer Pressure
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Lack of Family Support
Education
Boredom
Unemployment

Poverty

Living in poverty can negatively impact on a youth in many different ways.  Youth who are hungry may not perform well at school.  Families who live below the poverty line may not be able to put their children into sports and leisure programs, music lessons, or other extra-curricular activities.  Fees and equipment for such programs may be too expensive. Youth who live in poverty may not even have access to necessities such as eyeglasses or hearing aids.

Nearly 1 in 6 children in New Brunswick- approximately 24,000 children under 18 years- lived in poverty in 2007.

38% of Canadians who depend on food banks are children and youth.  Food bank use increased over 30% between 2008 and 2012.

Peer Pressure

Young people often say that those who have the most influence on their lives are other youth.  Many look to their peers for acceptance, companionship, and direction.  Peer influence can be positive or negative.  Negative peer influence tends to have a greater impact when youth do not feel recognized or connected at home. Such young people may feel particularly pressured to do things that are not good for their own healthy growth and development. This might include taking part in criminal activity, using drugs and alcohol, or having unprotected sex.  Some youth may engage in anti-social behaviours because their peers exclude them because of their gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, or language. Without a caring adult to listen and offer support, many young people feel overwhelmed by the stresses of adolescence.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Substance abuse devastates lives.  Students who drink and use drugs have shorter attention spans, poor cognitive abilities, and are less motivated.   Youth who live with adults who use drugs or drink excessively often do not know how to cope with their feelings of frustration, anger, and isolation.  Substance abuse is also associated with risk-taking behaviour such as criminal activity.  Whether young people drink or do drugs to escape the pain in their lives, or because they are bored and want to “fit in”, their impaired ability to make good decisions puts them at risk.

In 2007, 25% of surveyed high school students in New Brunswick reported that they had used marijuana in the year leading up to the survey.

The rate of drug-related crimes among young people nearly doubled between 1996 and 2006.

Lack of Family Support

Young people need to be in caring environments with strong attachments to supportive adults.

Youth who live in abusive homes or lack the attention of a caring adult can suffer from low self-esteem, depression, and lack self-respect.  They also tend to suffer from physical and behavioural problems.  They may carry their emotional hurt into the schools where they "act out" in an aggressive manner affecting other students, as well as teachers.   Some become timid and withdrawn while others begin to repeat the cycle of violence as they have no skills to solve problems without violence. Anger management can become an on-going problem.

The Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that 2.3 million of Canada’s 12-19 year olds are at risk for developing depression.

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail”

Education

Youth who have difficulties in school are at a greater risk of participating in criminal activities.  Young people experience difficulty for a number of reasons such as a lack of family support or learning disabilities or limitations. 

Research has shown that youth who have problems in school or who drop out early are at a higher risk of using drugs or committing offences.

In 2008/2009, 8.1% of New Brunswick youth aged 18-19 were not in school and did not have their high school diploma.

In 2006, 121,080 Canadian children aged 5 to 14 suffered from a learning limitation.

Boredom

Many youth complain of having nothing to do.  This may be because they cannot afford the expenses connected with taking part in sports or other clubs.  It may be for lack of opportunities in their area such as leisure or volunteer activities.  Many youth are left to care for themselves after school until their parents return home from their jobs.  This means that a lot of young people have idle time on their hands. 

Most young people get into trouble between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – the “after school” hours.

Unemployment

A continuing concern for young people today is the rising youth unemployment rate.  Young people want to be productive.  Employment opportunities give youth a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of independence, and the opportunity to develop valuable skills.  In addition to earning money, having a job teaches responsibility.  Careers are sometimes built on the experiences gained from part-time employment.  But when a youth leaves school and cannot find a job, there is sense of hopelessness, frustration and worthlessness. Unemployed youth are at greater risk of participating in anti-social behaviours.

For New Brunswickers between the ages of 15 and 24, the rate of unemployment is 18.3% - almost double the provincial unemployment rate.