What is Juvenile Delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency is a legal term that describes when children engage in illegal behavior before they have reached the statutory age of 18.

Less serious crimes committed by those under the age of 18 are usually classified as a status offense.

However, if the crime is more serious, such as murder or rape, the crime will be considered as juvenile delinquency and in some extreme cases, the minor may be tried as an adult.

Types of juvenile delinquency?

There are two main types of juvenile offenders 

Repeat offenders: Repeat offenders are minors who have been convicted of a crime in the past and have repeated the same offense. 

Age-specific offenders: These are minors who have committed a crime that is specific to their age group, such as truancy or underage drinking.

Main causes of Juvenile Delinquency

Issues associated with family

A family, especially parents, plays a big role in the development of the child/adolescent. 

Issues associated with family can be one of the risk factors and with the increasing number of our people “Japaying”, the number of children left for grandparents or other caregivers, sometimes constitute a great deal of challenges to pay attention and supervise these children so they do not end up in an unfavorable environment because improper surroundings may push a child/adolescent to committing a crime.

Oftentimes, children who commit crimes are the victims of violence. Individuals may confront violence in a variety of social settings: in family, school, etc. Children who have experienced violence are most likely to have infringed relationships with adults, cannot communicate with their peers, and become “bullies” to prove themselves.

Imitation/Peer Pressure: A human being goes through several stages of social development, among which childhood and adolescence are important. Values, patterns of behavior, and motives are forming in childhood age. At this stage, family and parents play an important role in a person’s life. Further, in adolescence, people try to define their own identity, try to establish themselves, and often the influence of parents is replaced by the influence of peers and friends. Hence, the reason for juvenile delinquency can become imitation.They can follow the example of:

family members who engage in criminal behavior;

peers prone to committing criminal acts;

Poverty: Do you also know that poverty can make children commit crime? When their parents can’t provide for their needs and they see how good other children are faring. It can lead them to committing crimes like stealing food, money and snacks from other children in their school and gradually graduates into a bigger crime in the community. 

Political Thuggery: Politicians take advantage of children by promising them a future of their dreams and these so-called “authorities” push children to commit crimes.Unfortunately, some teenagers have chosen a similar path that increasing the risk of committing a crime.

Psychological Trauma: Indifferent attitude of parents, feelings of inferiority, depression, fears, and complexes, excessive aggression, etc. This can also provoke a child to commit a crime.

Dear Parents, having read through all I have written upward, can you see that a greater part of this delinquency lies in how responsible you are? 

So, how do we end or prevent this?

EDUCATION

There is need to educate, assist and inform parents on how to raise healthy children, teach children about the effects of drugs, gangs, sex, and weapons; and to also create awareness in children that their actions have consequences. This is particularly important in an era where youth are barraged with sexual and violent images. Education have the underlying intent of encouraging hope and opening up opportunities for young people.

RECREATION

Research has made it known that Children/youths are most likely to commit crimes between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., with crime rates peaking at 3 p.m. Recreation programs allow them to channel their energy and to connect with other adults and children in the community. Recreational programs are designed to fit the personalities and skills of different children and may include sports, dancing, music, rock climbing, drama, karate, bowling, art, and other activities. 

For parent who don’t want their children mingling with community children, they can enroll them in different recreational academies. 

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Girl scouts, boy scouts, church youth groups, and volunteer groups all involve youth within a community. Involvement in community groups provide youth with an opportunity to interact in a safe social environment.

Other preventive methods include: 

Parent-child interaction.

Bullying prevention programs.

Rehabilitation to ending repeated offenses.

Prevention programs within communities by involving a guidance and counselor etc.

Proper health care and check ups for pregnant women during Antenatal, Prenatal and postnatal stages of pregnancy. 

On a final note, I will give you quotes about children to ponder on…

“Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate.” — Anonymous

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” Frederick Douglass

“Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” — Nelson Mandela .

Olubukola Olabiyi is a teacher, social media content creator, life coach, Gospel artist, and writer with focus on religion, morals, education, and motivational themes.