ABSTRACT
There are many explanations of why some adolescents become involved in juvenile delinquency. Yet, before considering any explanation, we should ask: Is delinquent behavior simply a normal part of growing up? Studies show that about half of adolescents in the United States are involved in some type of illegal activity before their eighteenth birthday, so perhaps delinquency is, in some ways, normal. However, those youths who get involved in delinquency are also more likely than others to have school, relationship, and employment problems later in life. In addition, delinquency costs U.S. society an estimated $15 billion per year. We should therefore try to understand why some adolescents become involved in delinquency because it may improve the lives of individuals, relationships, and society.
