Jay Simmons, the youngest of six children, was living with his family in an impoverished community when he entered the juvenile justice system. Around the age of 11, his problems were becoming more evident at home and school. He was absent from school on a regular basis, often stayed out all night with friends, and was eventually arrested on retail theft charges. Jay's parents were struggling to find permanent housing and faced being homeless, so Jay was voluntarily placed in foster care. Jay was an engaging person and a talented athlete who excelled in school sports. Many adults could see great potential in him, but Jay's criminal activity continued. His foster parents became increasingly concerned that they could not provide the care and treatment Jay needed. In a short period of time, Jay was arrested on two more violations for disorderly conduct and battery while becoming involved in fights at school. He was at risk for being placed in a more secure living environment.

Jay was sentenced to community supervision and probation. Although his foster parents had established clear rules for him, Jay felt torn between his old way of life and the new possibilities. Jay struggled with the new rules and expectations. He missed some of his initial appointments with his probation officer and continued to skip school. There were also concerns that Jay was drinking alcohol and becoming involved in gang activities. Jay's probation officer, family, and foster parents encouraged him to follow the court-ordered recommendations and understand the consequences of his behavior. He developed a strong relationship with his foster parents, who were direct and honest with Jay. The Substitute Care Unit at the local human services agency provided valuable support to Jay, his family, and foster parents. The team of professionals, coaches, and parents remained in close contact regarding Jay's behavior, as well as his academic progress. He began to see his own potential and the need to make changes in his life.

Accountability was a key ingredient of Jay's success. He attended a retail theft group to address his criminal behavior and to encourage him to take responsibility for his actions. With fellow group members, Jay could discuss the nature of his crimes, why they were wrong, the impact on victims, and how to prevent future delinquent acts by making better choices. Jay was also held accountable by being required to complete 15 hours of community service. He worked with the Youth Restitution Program and was assigned a counselor who helped him locate volunteer opportunities and verified his participation. Jay's involvement with a variety of programs and the many caring adults in his life made a significant difference. Although Jay never returned to his parental home, with the support of his foster parents, he did remain in close contact with his family and they regularly attended activities together. Jay started thinking seriously about going to college. He successfully completed his court-ordered programs and stayed out of trouble, eventually graduating from high school and receiving a full athletic scholarship to attend college.

While Jay's story isn't unique, it is unusual: unlike Jay, many troubled youths are not able to turn their lives around. Most youthful offenders live in tough urban environments, where families are either torn apart or in stress and where social support is lacking. Their path to delinquency runs through the social environment. Most delinquents are indigent and desperate, not calculating or evil. Rather than living in a leafy suburb, they grew up in deteriorated parts of town that lack the economic resources familiar to more affluent members of society. Explanations of delinquency as an individual-level phenomenon fail to account for the consistent social patterns in the delinquency rate: delinquency rates are much higher in the poorest inner city areas. If delinquency were an individual phenomenon, it would be spread more equally across the social structure. Understanding delinquent behavior, then, may require identifying the destructive social forces in the environment and understanding the process by which they impact human behavior.

Jay's parents had a tough time finding permanent housing, and because of this Jay was placed in foster care.

Critical Thinking: Considering Jay's rough beginnings, does his life show how poverty and homelessness are related to delinquent behavior? Respond to this statement: A supportive caretaker can overcome the effects of a destructive environment.