Parental Involvement and the Engagement of Youth in Property Crimes

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, in 2006 more than 25 percent of people arrested for property crimes were under age 18 and boys made up 68 percent of juvenile arrests for property crimes. The demographic of these numbers include a majority of Latino and African American males. Society has conditioned minority individuals to believe they are incapable of succeeding. As a result, this has historically led them to find refuge in the streets. Family is critical to the success of every person, and can have a significant influence on the decisions younger generations make. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) this study will examine the following question: does parental involvement affect the engagement in property crimes? The attempt to answer this question can help determine whether parental involvement can decrease delinquency among African American and Latino youth