Youth Involvement in Crime in the United Kingdom

Increasing Numbers of Older Prisoners

The demographic of prisoners in England and Wales is changing, with an increase in the number of older inmates, particularly those over 60. This shift is due to various factors, including the aging of long-term prisoners, habitual offenders, and individuals who commit crimes later in life, often between 50 and 60 years of age. Additionally, broader demographic changes, such as longer life expectancy, mean that the population has more time during which they might commit crimes, contributing to the rise in older prisoners within the criminal justice system.

Sociological Explanations for Youth Crime

Sociologists have proposed multiple theories to explain the higher rates of crime among young people. One view is that youth seek excitement, which can lead to rule-breaking. Functionalist sociologists argue that inadequate socialization in primary (family) and secondary (educational institutions, media, religious organizations) environments can result in youth criminality. They suggest that a lack of social control, insufficient parenting, and the absence of a parental figure, particularly a father, can contribute to a child's or teenager's likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Additionally, the diminished role of religious institutions and perceived disciplinary laxity in schools are thought to contribute to juvenile delinquency.

The Role of Subcultures in Youth Crime

Albert Cohen's subcultural theory suggests that certain youth subcultures endorse values that condone or even encourage criminal behavior. Cohen's research in the 1950s, which primarily focused on young working-class males in North America, indicated that delinquent acts such as vandalism and violence were often group activities within urban gangs. He theorized that status frustration, stemming from alienation by an education system that upholds middle-class values, leads these youths to crime as a means to gain status and retaliate against a system they view as unjust. However, Cohen's theory has been critiqued for its focus on male experiences and for not adequately considering the role of females in delinquency.

Marxist Views on Education and Youth Delinquency

Paul Willis's study in Britain, which echoes some of Cohen's ideas, explored the attitudes of working-class boys towards education and its relevance to their future. Willis discovered a strong anti-school sentiment among these boys, who felt that the education system did not value the practical skills and social networks they could acquire through subculture groups and gangs. Willis linked this sentiment to a broader critique of an education system that does not provide equal opportunities for success to working-class students compared to their middle-class counterparts. His work highlights the influence of educational experiences on the propensity for youth involvement in criminal activities.