Discuss the differences between adolescent limited offenders and life-course-persistent juvenile offenders.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

While youth who might be classified as adolescent-only offenders may occasionally be in need of some sort of counseling for any number of life-course issues, they seldom will need to see a treatment provider who specializes in the offender population. In more instances than not, these youth will age out of their behavior and will have no need for a correctional counselor. Rather, general counseling that addresses teen development, social pressure, peer groups, and other common aspects of development are likely to be more effective for this group. On the other hand, some adolescents continue their delinquent behavior into and throughout adulthood, and these are what Moffitt (1993) referred to as the life-course-persistent juvenile delinquents. According to Terrie Moffitt (1993), youthful antisocial and risk-prone acts are personal statements of independence. For example, these youth may engage in underage drinking or cigarette smoking, particularly with their peers, as a means of displaying adult-like behaviors. Another common form of delinquency for this group might be minor vandalism that is often perceived more as a “gag” than as an act of victimization, such as the defacing of road signs, the destruction of residential mailboxes, and other petty forms of destruction. Shoplifting may also be encouraged among some members of this group for the occasional “five-finger discount” in chosen music and/or clothing stores that are frequented by the peer group. This allows a youth to display bravado among his or her peers and, incidentally, obtain an item that is valued by the individual and the peer group in the process. Last, some of these individuals may engage in occasional truancy from school, particularly if they are able to hide their absence. These adolescents typically commit acts of defiance or nonconformity simply as a means of expressing their developing sense of autonomy. However, these adolescents are not likely to continue their activities into late adulthood. Moffitt (1993) refers to these youth as adolescent-only offenders.