In the United States, a juvenile is generally defined as someone who has not reached the age of 18. Juvenile crimes are, therefore, committed by people who are considered juveniles under the law. However, prosecutors can charge and try a juvenile as an adult in some serious cases.
Unfortunately, drugs often play a role in juvenile crimes. The offender may have used drugs at the time of the crime, or they may commit the crime to buy drugs to support an ongoing addiction.
If you are a minor, or if your underage child is facing drug-related criminal charges, reaching out to an experienced drug crime lawyer can help you understand your options and determine the best course of action to protect your rights and your future.
Let’s dig deeper into what role drugs play in juvenile crimes, starting with some statistics.
Statistics Regarding Juvenile Substance Use and Crime
According to the North Jersey Recovery Center, the already high rate of illegal
drug use among minors increases every year. Research continues to link teen crime with substance use.
Some sobering statistics include:
- Among minors arrested for burglary, 44 percent confess they stole so they could buy drugs
- One-third of minors charged with assault admit they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the assault
- Repeat juvenile offenders are two times more likely to smoke marijuana and three times more likely to consume alcohol
- Among convicted juveniles, 85 percent confessed to buying drugs, and 55 percent confessed they sold drugs in the past
- During their arrest, nearly 50 percent of juveniles had alcohol in their system
- Almost 30 percent of chronic violent offenders admit they regularly use amphetamines
- More than 60 percent of minor offenders admit they use at least one illegal substance every day.
Since sustaining a drug addition can be expensive, many juveniles resort to selling drugs or committing other crimes to obtain them. In states that have legalized specific substance use, the use and possession of these drugs are still illegal for minors.
When someone uses alcohol or drugs, their inhibitions and ability to make good decisions are affected. This effect is more pronounced in young people because their brains are still developing, and they have less life experience to help them choose wisely. As a result, we see higher crime rates among juveniles who use drugs and alcohol than non-users.
Factors That Contribute to Drug-Related Juvenile Crimes
Kids start using drugs for many reasons. They may claim it looks cool, or they are just curious, but there are usually more complicated underlying reasons why minors try drugs and continue to use them over time.
Socioeconomic Influences
A child’s socioeconomic status can have a deep impact on whether they use drugs and when. For example, if drug use is rampant in their school, access to substances may prove too much to resist.
More impoverished children may turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their everyday worries, while wealthy kids may have the means to buy these substances more easily. In either case, when minors are using drugs, they are more likely to commit a crime to continue that use.
Peer Pressure and Social Influences
When minors use illegal drugs for the first time, nearly half of them act in response to peer pressure. When surrounded by friends and classmates, kids want to fit in and may accept a beer or a joint without much thought. The fear of missing out (FOMO) and curiosity can motivate them to try dangerous things.
Also, peer pressure to commit a crime can more easily sway a youngster when their judgment is impaired by drugs or alcohol. As a result, some teens are coerced into stealing to get the money needed to buy drugs for their friends.
Mental Health Concerns
Studies have shown a link between drug use and mental health concerns in minors, and the stress faced by today’s young people is greater than ever. One in eight children is diagnosed with an anxiety-related disorder each year, and many relate these problems to social media, poor self-image, and troubles at home.
Rather than admitting these issues to an adult, teens often self-medicate through drug and alcohol use as a way out of their troubles. Unfortunately, mental health conditions often go undetected and untreated until the child commits a crime and brings the issues out into the open.
What are the Potential Legal Implications and Long-Term Consequences of Juvenile Crimes?
You may think the criminal justice system will treat a juvenile who commits a crime more gently than an adult accused of the same crime. Even if the minor remains in the juvenile justice system, their experience with the legal system can scar them emotionally and lead to a downward spiral of desperation and depression.
Most juveniles’ first contact with law enforcement occurs due to public intoxication or because they possessed, bought, or sold drugs. These may seem like minor infractions, but once someone enters the legal system, they are more likely to commit more serious crimes, especially when drugs are involved.
Legal Implications of Drug-Related Crimes
Possible penalties a juvenile may face if found delinquent include:
- Incarceration – most often as house arrest or placement with another family member or foster home. However, time in a juvenile detention home is possible.
- Probation – where the minor must follow specific rules and not commit any crimes for a period of supervision.
- Payment of fines or restitution – if theft was involved, the minor may be required to pay the money back to the victim or pay a court fine.
- Counseling – which should include substance abuse treatment
- Community service
- Wearing a tracking device, such as an ankle bracelet
- Verbal reprimand
Most juvenile criminal systems now focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. However, only a small percentage of minors receive the substance abuse or drug rehabilitation treatment they require. Approximately 53 percent of incarcerated teens are housed in facilities that don’t offer mental health services, and the system later releases them without addressing their underlying drug-related issues.
Many teens commit other crimes without follow-up care and wind up in the legal system again. Sadly, in some areas of the country, the rate of recidivism among minors (those who commit additional crimes and return to the court system) is as high as 81 percent.
Long-Term Effects of Drug-Related Juvenile Crimes
Beyond the legal implications a minor may face after committing a drug-related crime, they will likely deal with many life-long issues as well.
Some of the potential challenges a juvenile may face include:
- Social implications – Lost friendships, family relationships, and a general decline in social status
- Employment opportunities – Being fired from a current position or the inability to find work in the future
- Educational implications – Suspension or expulsion from high school or college, which leads to many other problems related to a lack of education
- Financial concerns – Without a solid education and employment, they will likely face ongoing financial problems
- Additional criminal behavior – With no job, financial stress, and untreated substance use issues, many people will commit additional crimes to cope with their lives.
- A downward spiral of despair with no easy solutions.
Ultimately, what may seem like a minor infraction today could lead to extreme lifelong consequences starting before the minor reaches adulthood.
Berry Law’s Team Provides You With Multiple Attorney Perspectives
If Your Child is Facing Juvenile Criminal Charges, Turn to Berry Law
John S. Berry , Drug Crime Lawyer
When drugs play a role in juvenile criminal charges, the consequences can extend beyond the criminal justice system. A minor charged with a drug-related crime deserves legal protection by working with experienced criminal defense lawyers to ensure their future is not destroyed by one wrong decision.
At Berry Law, we understand all that is at stake and are ready to fight for justice from the start. Call us at (402) 226-5908 or fill out our online contact form to speak with our tenacious team of legal professionals today.
