Delinquencia ingles

DELINQUENCY
delinquency, criminal behaviour, especially that carried out by a juvenile. Depending on the nation of origin, a juvenile becomes an adult anywhere between the ages of 15 to 18,although the age is sometimes lowered for murder and other serious crimes. Delinquency implies conduct that does not conform to the legal or moral standards of society; it usually applies only to acts that,if performed by an adult, would be termed criminal. It is thus distinguished from a status offense, a term applied in the United States and other national legal systems to acts considered wrongfulwhen committed by a juvenile but not when committed by an adult. See also juvenile court; juvenile justice.
In Western countries, delinquent behaviour is most common in the 14- to 15-year-old age group.At age 14, most delinquent conduct involves minor theft. By age 16 or 17, more violent and dangerous acts, including assault and the use of a weapon, become prevalent. Most delinquents do notcontinue this behaviour into their adult life, for, as the circumstances of their lives change and they get a job, marry, or simply mature out of their turbulent adolescence, their conduct usually falls inline with societal standards. Although the evidence is ambiguous, most delinquents adjust to a noncriminal life, yet the proportion of delinquents who become criminals is higher than that ofnondelinquents. In the United States, boys make up 80 percent of the delinquent population, and this rate is similar throughout Europe and Japan.
Schools are often the forum in which delinquent behaviouroriginates. Most delinquents perform poorly in school and are unhappy in the school environment. Many delinquents are dropouts who leave school at an early age but have no job opportunities. Juvenile gangsoften perform delinquent acts, not solely out of frustration with society but also out of a need to attain status within their group. A gang can provide the rewards a juvenile cannot get from his...