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Juvenile delinquency is a massively growing problem in the United States. There are multiple reasons for this increase in criminal activity among the nation's youthful population.

-Drugs
One of the prime risk factors for juveniles is drug use. Nevermind all the discussion of whether one or another drug is addictive or has negative side effects. The issue relating to juvenile crime is that consumption, possession, manufacture and/or distribution are against the law. That means that when law enforcement personnel find evidence, they file criminal complaints. The arguments about addictive qualities, side effects and/or unintended consequences are enormous. But the basic delinquency issues reamins that controlled substance use is illegal.

-Peer Problems
Juveniles are at an age in which they are developing adult bodies, discovering knowledge about the world, learning to manage and control themselves, yet have many immature aspects of their personalities. Much of the learning they receive comes from their friends. They are developing a sense of independence from parents, and developing a social identity. Much of that identity development comes from what they see and hear from their peers. It is an unfortunate fact that many of those lessons come from peers with more dominant personalities but poorly developed character. Juveniles want their friends to think well of them, want approval from their friends and often will do things to get that approval they ordinarily would not do outside the "herd." One of the best things parents can do for their children is to carefully screen friends, and be involved with them.

-Mental Health Issues
Much of my work with young offenders involves identifying underlying mental health problems. Children who have injured their heads, have been born to drug/alcohol consuming parents, experienced trauma, abuse, neglect and/or deprivation very often have trouble with their moods, thinking patterns, ability to focus their attention, controlling their impulses, or being concerned about what others need, feel, think or want. These mental health issues, in turn, are risk factors that increase the propensity to commit delinquent acts.

-Lack of Appropriate Parents and/or Role Models
Perhaps the saddest of all contributing risk factors to delinquency is inadequate and/or inappropriate parenting. It is not uncommon to find to find that a juvenile court's caseload is comprised of in excess of 70% of children whose biological parents have separated,

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