The 2010 census showed that more than 74 million children (or a quarter of the total population) reside in the United States, almost a quarter of whom are children under the age of 12 and a quarter of young people. ages 12 to 17 (Federal Interagency on Child and Family Statistics, 2011). Many of the decisions a young person makes can affect the rest of their life – and juvenile delinquency is just one of the bad decisions a young person can make. This essay covers the issue of juvenile delinquency, the involvement of social work, and my thoughts on this issue.The Issue of Juvenile DelinquencyAccording to the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, in 2009, older youth 12 to 17 year olds committed more than 275,000 serious violent crimes. (2011). Many factors are known to contribute to youth crime, including lack of parental involvement in their children's lives; mistreatment; non-compliance with social norms; and untreated health/mental issues. The old adage “Boys will be boys” uttered by a parent is not an acceptable excuse for youth misbehavior (Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner, 2010). Young people need positive role models in their lives. If a young person's parents are not positive role models, the child may turn to a life of crime. Sometimes, however, abuse by a parent is a contributing factor to juvenile delinquency. People who are victims of abuse tend to internalize their feelings, leading them to exhibit symptoms of “anxiety, depression, or suicidal behavior” (Maschi, Morgen, Hatcher, Rosata, & Violette, 2009). Internalizing feelings can lead to externalizing unacceptable behaviors. Abused youth can become aggressive and rebellious (Maschi, et al, 2009). Untreated health or mental issues may also contribute to juvenile involvement in crime...... middle of article ......s.govGerdes, KE & Segal, E. (2011) . Importance of empathy for social work practice: integrating the new science. Social Work, 56(2), 141-148. Harris, A. (2009). The role of power in humiliating interactions: How social control is exercised in juvenile court. Contemporary Justice Review, 12(4), 379-399.Doi: 10.10880/10282580903342854Maschi, T., Morgen, K., Hatcher, S., Rosato, N. and Violette. (2009) Thoughts and emotions of abused children as behavioral predictors: Evidence from social work. Social Work, 54(2), 135-143. Segal, E., Gerdes, K. and Steiner, S. (2010). An introduction to the profession of social worker. Third edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cenage Learning. Schwalbe, C., Hatcher, S. and Maschi, T. (2009). The effects of treatment needs and prior social services on juvenile court decision-making. Social work research, 33(1), 31-40.