How would you explain the high rate of juvenile crime in the US today?

Question

And what can be done to change it?

Answer 1

parents dont want to be parents they want to be their kids "friend"

Answer 2

In today's society, the kids have no structure, discipline, role models, etc... They basically have NO RESPECT for people. They have way too much free time, a lot come from broken homes and the parent has to work 1-2 jobs to get by. We have our teachers having affairs with the students instead of teaching them. We also have what seems to be a higher percentage of youth with behavior disorders, and mental illness. Good morals and values are not instilled in them like when we grew up. What can we do to change it? I feel that there should be more early intervention programs, boot camps and maybe consequences for dropping out of school. Maybe the sentencing for crime should be revised. I feel that we should not turn our backs on them, most of them are looking for attention and needing to feel accepted somewhere, and they look to the streets and life of crime to fill the void. They crave attention and negative attention is better than none at all.

Answer 3

Bad parents and lenient judges. Repeat offenders should have a different sentencing guideline than a first offender.

Answer 4

Parents need to know what their kids are doing.  Both the parents and kids need to be responsible here.