Research Paper on:
Crime and Youth Myths

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
(1993) states that, "While the growing-up process is inevitable, natural, and God-given, the process of children turning into Teenagers is not. The Teenager was invented, fashioned, permitted -- let loose  you might say -- by the generation of our parents and grandparents" (PlattTeenagers.html). Part of our perceptions of teenagers relates to crime and their position as potential criminals. However, these  are often myths that we have invented as we push these individuals further and further away, determined to believe that teenagers are some other species so to speak. In the  following paper we examine some of these myths and discuss their impact on society. The paper also examines what information or research would prove helpful is dispelling such myths. The  paper finishes with ideas for the student in relationship to writing a letter to the editor in the hopes of dispelling some of these myths. Some Myths Without  even delving into research we can easily come up with many myths, or assumed truths, concerning the youth of today. We assume that they are generally prone to being incredibly  troubled and as such will involve themselves easily in drugs, alcohol, and criminal behavior. They will stay out late at night, frighten people, accost individuals with their language, and generally  make a nuisance of themselves. We can even go a bit further and argue that all youth are seen as potential criminals, when troubled, in such a manner that they  will take a gun to school and fire openly upon students and teachers. It is such perceptions as these that often create the social myths we see as truths.  In the article provided by the student, titled "Gangs Harming Tourism Image" (author unknown), the article illustrates how youth who hang around and generally create chaos, smashing fences and using