Juvenile crime is a term used to describe a criminal offense committed by a child under the age of 18 years old. Some offenses are minor: parental disobedience, shoplifting, and truancy, while others are much more serious. Children can have criminal intent at any age; there is no limit. According to the official U.S. crime reports, in the 1980s about one-fifth of all persons arrested for crimes were under the age of 18, and in the 1970s, juvenile arrests increased in almost every serious crime category. Female juvenile crime more than doubled.
             The most common offenses are vandalism, shoplifting, underage drinking, and marijuana usage. Most juveniles who commit acts of crime come from homes without a strong family unit in one way or another. Juvenile crime will not be solved until parents can become more involved, and set a better example for their children. Crime is a serious problem all in itself, it is more of an eye-opening issue when it involves the children of our society. All children are not born into a life of crime, it is the issues they have to face during the course of their lives that tend to shape their future, whether it be peer pressure or a dysfunctional family, many kids have had crime be their prime example of how to lead a life, and they might even view it as success in some cases.
             According to Reaves, juvenile crime is not unusual, twenty-five million teenagers involve themselves wit. With a life of crime, one-third are troubled enough to require intervention (Reaves, 3). Many children choose to participate in criminal behavior to fit into a crowd that falls under the
             category of peer pressure. Many kids end up on the streets as a result of the mistakes they have made. This is a problem because children are not in school, and are not in their homes or with those who can care for and educate them. Many juvenile delinquents are not top scholar students or are even in classes. According to Reaves, school is s...