Social Process Theories Contend That One's Family, Friends, and Peers

Essay

Social process theories contend that one's family, friends, and peers have the greatest impact on one's behavior, and it is the interactions with these groups that ultimately determine whether a person will become involved in criminal behavior. According toa recent U.S. Department of Justice report, nearly 50 percent of inmates in state prisons have relatives whohave alsobeen incarcerated. You are chief juvenile probation officer assigned toone of the most illegal drug-prone high schools in the city where roughly 35% of your current student body has a family member whohas either been toprison or is currently in prison for use or sale of narcotics. You know you must attempt tobreak this potential cycle of drug use and distribution for these particular students. Focusing on the underlying premise of social process theories, you want toattempt tohave these at-risk youth "unlearn" what they may have already learned in regard todeviant and criminal behavior. Based on this underlying premise of "unlearning", what will be your plan of action toassist these at-risk youth in the high school? Fully explain your plan, including what steps you will take, and whowill assist you in carrying out the various phases of your plan.