Key Aspects of the Juvenile Case of Mary Bell - Paper Example

Introduction

The case of Mary Bell began on May 26, 1957, with the murder of four-year-old Brian Howe on May 26, 1957, just a day before Mary's eleventh birthday, and the murder of three-year-old martin brown. In the case of martin brown, Mary's neighbor, Norma Bell, accompanied her while she committed the violent act. Later, Mary returned to mutilate her victim's body. Moreover, Mary had no real motives behind the killings, besides her deeply scared childhood. Mary bell suffered both sexual abuse and physical injuries at the hands of her mother. Additionally, her strained relationship with her mother as well as violent up bring might have contributed to her violent actions. The lack of in-depth psychological analysis on the part of the court psychiatrists put Mary in jail until she was aged 23 years old. Since her release from prison in the 1980s, Mary has lived under a series of pseudonyms.

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Unfortunately, Mary Bell had many factors stacked against her; she was like many other children in her neighborhood who were left unsupervised. Mary's mother, Betty Bell was a well-known prostitute and would often travel outside for work. She could also force Mary to engage herself in prostitution acts with her clients. On the other hand, Mary's father Billy Bell was also a habitual criminal. Mary's mother, Betty Bell never ready valued her relationship. She was often described as "little to no attachment between Mary and her mother."

Factors That Are Important for One to Understand the Origin of Juvenile Delinquent Behavior

To elaborate on the juvenile delinquents, one must define the meaning of the two words. The federal law describes a juvenile as any person under the age of 17 or 18 years of age. The term delinquency simply refers to the act which is committed by the juvenile that could be considered a crime if an adult committed it. The term delinquency can also mean any actions which are considered illegal based on the age of the individual committing the act.

Psychodynamic Theory

Based on the psychodynamic theory, it provides a framework as to why Mary Bell became delinquent. The theory argues that adults oppress children as they attempt to impose and maintain adult conceptions of social order. Children are always perceived as an object and devalued experiencing a sense of powerlessness. The level of oppression always ranges from a simple demand for obedience and to the physical as well as sexual abuse as witnessed in the case of Mary Bell. Also, Mary herself admitted that she was subjected to repeated sexual abuse. She was forced by her mother at the age of four to engage in sexual acts with men. When a child is not mentally healthy, the children become primed to engage in delinquency. Consistent with the psychodynamic theory, one can have criminal behaviors if in any case, the superego is underdeveloped. It means that their socialization process may be inadequate or incomplete. Also, another concept of this theory is that it explores the way that the early life experiences influence the personality which in turn affects the child's behavior.

Strategy for Preventing Delinquency

Various studies indicate the best predictor of delinquent behavior in the past. These youths continue their delinquency with no proper guide to change their behavior hence there is no break in the chain. One strategy which is geared towards preventing delinquency that is consisted with the psychodynamic theory is the counselling therapy. Moreover, delinquency is a system of deep-seated psychological problems and offenders need counselling to acquire an understanding of the cause of mental disturbance.