Sometimes, when the police ask an adolescent why they committed a crime like arson, they will respond that they don’t really know. They’ll respond with something like, “It seemed a good idea at the time” or “It was just a bit of fun” or ‘Everyone else was doing it and I didn’t want to be left out”.
Being left out of the group is one of the worst things that could happen to them. Whether the others pressured them to join in, or they just felt an unspoken pressure to join in to stay (or become) one of the group, it can still result in them doing something illegal they probably would never have done otherwise.
Research backs this up
Plenty of studies have proved the link between peer pressure and adolescent crime. Kids of this age are at a very vulnerable stage of their life. They are trying to work out where they fit in the world, and part of that can be hanging out with what others might consider the ‘wrong crowd” or doing things they know their parents would not approve of.
Setting fire to something could easily appeal. They know they are not meant to. But, at the same time, it would be one of those moments they and their friends would remember for years to come. They probably never think through the wider considerations – such as that someone owns that property or the fire might get out of control. Let alone that they could end up in court because of it.
Almost everyone does some foolish things when they are young. If your child is facing arson charges, it’s important to get legal help to try and convince a court to see them as the kind, loving, but sometimes foolish adolescent you see them as, rather than the threat to society the prosecution may portray them as being.