Some studies have found that juvenile crime is heavily influenced by peer pressure. If a young person is around a greater percentage of people who break the law, they’re more likely to do so themselves.
There are many different examples of exactly how this happens. A teenager who is at a party may drink alcohol or use other drugs, even though they know they’re underage, just because other people at the party are doing so. A teen who is out with friends may engage in minor crimes like vandalism or shoplifting, perhaps because they’ve been dared to by other members of the group.
For parents, this can be very frustrating because they understand the potential ramifications and how a criminal conviction can influence a young person’s future. So why is it that teens will allow themselves to be pressured into activities they likely wouldn’t have engaged in on their own?
A desire to fit in
Often, it is as simple as teenagers wanting to fit in with the group. They may think that they can “prove” themselves through some sort of activity, such as accepting the dare to shoplift.
Teens are also sometimes worried about rejection or standing out. For instance, a teenager who drinks alcohol at a party may have been worried about being the only person who wasn’t drinking if everyone else was. In this sense, they are less interested in the illegal activity itself and more interested in going along with the crowd so that they don’t face negative ramifications, such as insults, jokes or otherwise feeling marginalized by the group.
For parents of teens who have been accused of criminal activity, their future is hanging in the balance, so it’s important for all involved to understand what criminal defense options they have.