ACR101 Lecture 4: ACR101 Week 3
ACR101 Week 3
Youth and Crime
Lecture Objectives
oUnderstand that negative perceptions regarding young people’s behaviour is not new;
oReflect on the role of the media with respect youth & crime;
oBe aware of the different theoretical approaches to and explanations of youth & crime;
oUnderstand the key developments in approaches to young people and crime in
contemporary Australia;
oBe aware of the statistics that relate to the patterns and trends with respect to
offending;
oUnderstand the significance of young people as victims of crime as well as perpetrators.
In the context of crime and the Criminal Justice System, the term 'youth' has a specific
meaning. In Australia, young people between the ages of 10-17 (16 in Queensland) are
subject to the rules, processes and outcomes of juvenile rather than adult justice.
In a more general sense, 'youth' refers to the fluid period between childhood and
adulthood. There is not really a clear or consistent point that marks the start or end of being
a youth.
In the context of crime and criminal justice, the term 'youth' often carries a negative
association. Influenced as we are by what we read and see in the media, films and books, it
is unlikely that most people, when asked to describe what comes to mind when they hear
the terms youth and crime, will paint a positive picture or even one where youths are the
victims of crime rather than the perpetrators
In a general sense, 'young people' or 'young person' are more inclusive and less negatively
weighted terms, that do not carry such negative connotations.
o‘Youth’ a relatively modern concept
oValue-laden and gendered term
oNegative perceptions of youth are not new: a ‘recurrent’ problem
o"The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of
nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are
impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for
wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest
and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress” (From a sermon preached by Peter the
Hermit in A.D. 1274).
oSome common characteristics of analyses of youthful deviance
oThe problem is specific to a time period
oThe past is idealised, and the present catastrophised
oSomething’s wrong now that was not wrong in the past.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
In the context of crime and the criminal justice system, the term "youth" has a specific meaning. In australia, young people between the ages of 10-17 (16 in queensland) are subject to the rules, processes and outcomes of juvenile rather than adult justice. In a more general sense, "youth" refers to the fluid period between childhood and adulthood. There is not really a clear or consistent point that marks the start or end of being a youth. In the context of crime and criminal justice, the term "youth" often carries a negative association. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress (from a sermon preached by peter the.
