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Juvenile Delinquency

CONTENT:Juvenile delinquencyRisk factorsCharacteristicsCausesPreventionLegal measuresRole of school teachers

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY Conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action

A violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment

MEANING

Juvenile delinquency is the most important aspect of the subject matter of criminology. Juvenile delinquency, as a legal concept is of recent origin. Juvenile delinquency is a big breading centre of criminals.

The word delinquency is derived from the Latin word delinquere meaning de i.e. away and linquere i.e. to leave thus, meaning to leave or to abandon.

INCIDENCE

According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data for 2011 64% of all juvenile criminals fall in the age group of 16-18 .

In 2011 ,33887 juveniles were arrested for 25,178 instances of crime. Of these 1,211 juveniles in the 7-12 years age group , 11,019 in the age 12-16 years age group while 21,657 in the 16-18 years age group

Violent Crimes:

Aggravated assaultPick pocketingHomicideRapeStealingRobberyCar theftsBurglariesviolance

CHARACTERISTICS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCYThe delinquency rates are many times higher for boys than girls, that is, girls commit fewer delinquencies than boy

Nine out of 10 juvenile delinquents are first-offenders and only one-tenth is recidivists or past-offenders

The delinquency rates tend to be highest during early adolescence.

Juvenile delinquency is more in urban than a rural phenomenon.

RISK FACTORS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Individual risk factorslowintelligenceimpulsivenessor the inability to delaygratification

Family environment and peer influenceThe level ofparental supervisionHarshpunishmentparental conflict orseparationcriminal parents or siblingsparental abuse or neglect

Social and communityThe availability of drugs and firearms, community disorganization economic depravation.

CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

BIOLOGICAL CAUSESHeredity defects and glandular problems

XYY type of chromosomal defects

SOCIAL CAUSESBroken families single parent familiesseparated families, frequent parents fight lack of trust and confidence among the parents

Alcoholic parents

Step parents

Criminal parents or psychological problems in parents

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Poverty

Neglect

Gender discrimination

Society:

DEVELOPING NEGATIVE FEELING FROM THE SOCIETY

Psychological concerns

Mental disability

Physical concerns

Drug use

Peer group influencefriends commit crime adolescents often learn to do itPeer group rejectionAbusive behaviour

Personal ReasonsThe negative feelings make the person commit crime even if he belongs to a good family.

Educational Curriculum

Delinquents are typically non-bookish and non-academic individuals who take studies like a burden. When they fail in exams and get scolded by their family, they tend to indulge themselves in delinquent acts.

PREVENTIONEducation RecreationCommunity involvementCreation of special programsParent-Child Interaction Training ProgramBullying Prevention Program

Education

Teach children about the effects of drugs, gangs, sex, and weapons This is particularly important where youth are barraged with sexual and violent images. Educational programs have the underlying intent of encouraging hope and opening up opportunities for young people

Recreation

Recreation programs allow youths to connect with other adults and children in the community

sports, dancing, music, rock climbing, drama, karate, bowling, art, and other activities.

Community involvement

Involvement in community groups provide youth with an opportunity to interact in a safe social environment

Girl scouts, boy scouts, church youth groups, and volunteer groups all involve within a community

Parent-Child Interaction Training ProgramA therapist guides the parents, educating them on how best to respond to their child's behaviour whether positive or negative.

The program has been shown to reduce hyperactivity, attention deficit, aggression, and anxious behaviour in children

Bullying Prevention Program

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behaviour among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalanceplace in elementary and junior high school settings

An anonymous student questionnaire fills teachers and administrators in as to who is doing the bullying

set up class rules and facilitate discussions that address the problem.

Prevention Programs within the Juvenile Justice System

Drug rehabilitation assistance, counselling, and educational opportunitiesprovide them with job training, give them the experience of living in a safe, stable environment, and provide them with assistance to break harmful habits

Functional Family Therapy (FFTProgram assists youth on parole by helping them and their families communicate in more effective, positive ways.

CONTROL MEASURES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Accept the delinquent as a person in his own right, and give affection and security.Watch for the signs of maladjustment; early treatment may prevent this maladjusted.Providing the child with a variety of experiences like music and dance, art and craft, etc. can serve the purposeChange the conditions of home, school and community that seem to give rise to such behaviour.

CHILD GUIDANCE CLINICThe first child guidance clinic was started in Chicago in 1909.To prevent children from the possibility of becoming neurotics and psychotics in later life.a team work job, the comprising of a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, psychiatric social workers, public health nurses, paediatrician, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and neurologist.

Specialized Programs Provided at Child Guidance Clinic

Early InterventionIntensive Family SupportPlay therapyJuvenile Fire setter Intervention ProgramAssessment and Treatment of Sexual Behavior Problems

CHILD PLACEMENT

Orphanages: Children who have no home, or who for some reason could not be cared for by their parents are placed in orphanages.

Remand homes: The child is placed under the care of doctors, psychiatrists, and other trained personnel

JUVENILE HOME

LEGISLATIVE MEASURES

Apprentices Act of 1850:

Orphans and poor children could take the benefit of this Act. The Act also dealt with children who committed petty offences

Reformatory Schools Act of 1897:

Under this Act courts were empowered to send for detention youthful male offenders to Reformatory School for a periodChildren ActsChildren Acts enacted by Madras in 1920 and followed by other States,

No child under 14 years of age can be imprisoned under any circumstances and no young person between 14-16 years of age can be imprisoned unless he is certified to be an unruly person

ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN PREVENTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

School-Based Programs for Children and Adolescents

Life skills training;Socialization skills;Problem-solving and coping skills;Preparation for parenthood;Self-protection training.

Life Skills Training

Socialization Skills

Problem-solving and Coping Skills

Preparation for Parenthood

School-Community Programs

Use of School Facilities and Resourcesworkshops on child abuseJoint school-community adult education programsSchool newslettersSchool staff can serve as consultants, leaders, and facilitators of these programs