A juvenile delinquency crime is an act committed by a minor for which an adult would be tried in a criminal court. The new statistics paint an alarming picture: juvenile delinquency is higher than ever. According to the Census Bureau, there were 1,653,000 delinquent crimes recorded in the United States in 2008. This is a 23.6% increase from 1990, when 1,337,000 criminal offenses occurred. Today, many people are calling for lowering the age of criminal responsibility and draconian penalties (Jenson & Howard, 1998; Melton, Petrila, Poythress, Slobogin, 2007). These individuals react to this evident social crisis by trying to fight the phenomenon by containing the symptoms but without considering the causes that are created socially. When trying to combat this phenomenon we must be aware of the social contexts of juvenile delinquency. Of course, the postulate of personal responsibility must be maintained, however, statistics showing a significant relationship between socioeconomic status and vulnerability to crime cannot be ignored (Aaltonen, Kivivuori, & Martikainen, 2011). Only when these obvious injustices (e.g. the gap between rich and poor) are compensated for, can a reduction in crime be achieved (Aaltonen, Kivivuori, & Martikainen, 2011). However, it is not only economic problems that push young people to commit criminal acts. Furthermore, broken families, often accompanied by alcoholism, unemployment, and a high divorce rate, contribute to young people's lack of socialization (Wilson & Petersilia, 2011). Loneliness and growing individualism prevent the development of solidarity and compassion (Mackenzie, 2008). The apathy and anonymity of large cities create lethargy and disorientation, which, coup...... middle of paper ......posowa, AJ (2009). Explaining gang involvement and delinquency among Asian Americans: An empirical test of general strain theory. Journal of Gang Research, 16, 1-33.US Census Bureau. (2012). Law enforcement, courts and prisons: juvenile delinquency, child abuse (Table 340). The statistical abstract of 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2011, from http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0340.pdfVon Hofer, H. (2000). Criminal violence and youth in Sweden: a long-term perspective. Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention, 1(1), 56-72. doi:10.1080/14043850050116264Wilson, J. Q., & Petersilia, J. (2011). Crime and public policy. Oxford University Press.Zdun, S. (2008). Violence in street culture: intercultural comparison between youth groups and criminal gangs. New Directions for Youth Development, (119), 39-54, 9. doi:10.1002/yd.272