Juvenile crime is crime committed by children under the age of 18. It is usually committed by teenagers and is a term that refers to many types of misconduct forbidden by law. A serious juvenile offender is often defined as one whose offense history includes arrests for five or more serious offenses or one who commits one or more offenses whose severity is equal to homicide
             Juvenile crime has increased during the past 30 years because children are being abandoned, abused, mistreated, and ignored. Serious juvenile crime, especially violent offenses, has increased rapidly in recent years. The earlier a child comes into the juvenile justice system the greater the likelihood that the child will develop and continue a delinquent and criminal career. While the overall crime rate has dropped in the country, violent offenses committed by teens has increased. Most child criminals are desperately poor; many are the products of multiple foster homes.
             Many lawmaking members of Congress believe that the high level of crime in America must have its roots in material conditions, such as poor employment opportunities and a shortage of properly funded social programs. Violent crime is increasing because of the easy availability of drugs. Teens who sell drugs often carry guns and may feel compelled toward violence to intimidate others, protect their turf and to settle scores with rival dealers. A lot of juveniles also commit crimes when they are high on drugs or blinded by alcohol. FBI statistics prove that juvenile drug-abuse arrests increased 42 percent between 1993 and 1994. Twenty percent of the juveniles taken into custody are defined for offenses such as underage drinking, sexual promiscuity, or running away. Teenagers who experience violence, neglect or abuse in the home are highly vulnerable to turn bad.
             Many authorities think that the separation of status offenders from the violent offenders may help to reveal who is really a juvenile ...