Juvenile delinquency as defined by the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia is: "criminal or antisocial behavior of juveniles. Juvenile delinquents are usually considered to be in need of treatment, rehabilitation, or discipline". There is growing concern for the social problem of juvenile delinquency. Currently there is a larger media focus on the crimes that adolescents commit. Columbine and other youth crime has been splashed on every newspaper, magazine cover, and television news programs. .
In 1997, law enforcement agencies were able to identify the offender in about two-thirds (62%) of all reported homicides in the U.S. As a result, 1,700 juveniles were implicated in 1,400 murders in 1997. However, the actual number of juvenile murderers is greater than this because the FBI had no information about the offender(s) in about 6,900 reported murders (38% of the total) (OJJDP, 2000). According to the NCVS, in 1997 juveniles under age 18 were involved in 27% of all serious violent victimizations, including 14% of sexual assaults, 30% of robberies, and 27% of aggravated assaults. .
(OJJDP, 2000). The rate at which juveniles committed serious violent crimes changed little between 1973 and 1989, peaked in 1993, then declined to the lowest level since 1986 (OJJDP, 2000). .
Prevention programs are a necessary part of the criminal justice system. They are critical in substantially lowering the juvenile crime rates. Three different levels of delinquency prevention have been identified. Primary prevention is focused on modifying conditions in the physical and social environment that lead to delinquency. Secondary prevention refers to intervention in the lives of juveniles or groups identified as in circumstances that dispose them toward delinquency. Tertiary prevention is directed at the prevention of recidivism.
Prevention of juvenile crime would be more cost efficient also. If we could reduce juvenile crime rates then the costs of juvenile court proceedings, juvenile detention, and other costs of juveniles that are involved with the court system would be less.
