Juvenile Delinquency Risk Factors — Breakaway Outreach

Juvenile Delinquency Risk Factors

What Factors Increase or Decrease Boys’ Risk of Juvenile Delinquency?

Individual risk factors for juvenile delinquency include:

Early aggressive behavior
Restlessness and concentration problems
Substance abuse
Association with antisocial peers
Participation in unstructured leisure activities

Ways families, schools, and communities can aggravate the risk of juvenile delinquency:

Childhood maltreatment
Ineffective or dysfunctional parenting
Parental criminality
Truancy and dropping out of school
Exposure to community violence
Poverty

Factors that help protect young people from the risk of juvenile delinquency include:

Attachments to family or family support
Parental monitoring
Strong feelings of accountability or perceived risk of punishment for misbehavior
Positive social and community activities
High academic achievement or school connectedness
Mentoring relationships and positive role models
Low neighborhood crime rate

“A wonderful ministry that serves children here and abroad. I first met the founder, Jimmy Larche, when he came to visit my church during mission conference. Since then I have served at Breakaway’s summer camp for trauma-impacted kids, as well as the sports in ministry in Dominican Republic. Jimmy has a powerful testimony that drives him to reach out with the love of God to kids who are struggling like he once was.”

Tyler

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for Breakaway Outreach. My father was incarcerated and I was sent into foster care. I started camp as a tiny little camper and now I get to serve as camp nurse! I graduated from Lee University with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I am currently working as a Nursery and Postpartum Nurse. Breakaway Outreach is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an outreach of family and community that all come together because we truly care about God’s children.”

Lacey

“This camp has been wonderful. You have helped me to find Jesus, the Lord. I have let Jesus into my heart. You have so many amazing people here and you have given me so much hope. God has given us all a chance to know and love each other. Thank you so much and I hope that I can keep coming back to camp.”

Maya

“Before the first year at camp, it was the lowest part of my life. I had lost my mother and sister in a tragic car wreck. I was being bullied at school and was planning to commit suicide when I received an invitation with a scholarship to attend Breakaway camp. I decided to put off the suicide plan and attend camp. It was the best decision I ever made. I gave my life to Jesus at camp and then Breakaway helped me get involved with a local church. My life still has ups and downs but I know now that God has me no matter what.”

Ryan