Juvenile Delinquency is basically a matter of personal choice it can only be solved through

stricter laws and punishment.

Juvenile Delinquency is defined as the participation by a minor child, usually between the

ages of 10 and 17, in illegal behaviour or activities. The term is also used to refer to children

who exhibit a persistent behaviour of mischievousness or disobedience. These children are

considered to be out of parental control and thus becoming subjects to legal action by the

court system. (https://legaldictionary.net/juvenile-delinquency/) Children and Teenagers

are still immatures and do not think like adults, therefore they are prone to making mistakes

or committing crimes that are not fully in their control. Whilst most of these devious acts are

normally committed in groups, Juvenile Delinquency is basically a matter of personal choice.

Children and Teenagers can break laws for various reasons, and there are a number of factors

that can lead them to juvenile delinquency. It goes without saying that family plays a vital

role in shaping a child’s behaviour and grooming his/her personality. He\She adopts moral

and ethical values from parents and other family members. However, they become violent or

show signs of juvenile delinquency when they’re facing disturbances at home. Broken or

disturbed families with bad relations can cause minors to go astray and become violent.

Single parents are often busy working, therefore they’re not able to spend quality time with

their children. In households were both parents are employed children are often times left

unsupervised. As a result they are left to seek solace or refuge elsewhere.

This is normally found through various illegal activities such as smoking, drinking or

purchasing of alcoholic beverages, drug abuse and some may even run away from home.

Often times these minor activities propel them to commit major activities resulting in them

becoming subjects to the court system. Contrary to popular belief, no one forced them to

commit these acts a personal choice was made. Yes the acts may be committed in groups or
they may get persuasion from peers however a conscious decision must be made before the

act is carried out. One must first think about it before doing it.

Minors become juvenile delinquents due to their economic conditions. When they experience

poor economic conditions such as lack of food, clothing, shelter or money they turn to illegal

or criminal activities as they are not in a position to have their most basic needs met. As a

result they turn to stealing or even commit serious crimes such as murder to have these needs

met. Again we see where a personal decision was made to engage in these activities, their

circumstances pushed them to indulge and whilst they may call on others to assist them the

ultimate decision was made by them.

Many children and teenagers who are arrested for delinquent behaviour have suffered

psychological or physical abuse, they have learning disabilities, anger issues and fall behind

in their studies. 11 and 12-year-olds are leaving primary school not functionally literate. They

go into the secondary schools and become detached because they cannot manage the classes

and the work load, so they get suspended, they get expelled, or they drop out. Once they are

out of the formal school system, they then find other activities to occupy their time.

According to Mr. Damion Hutchinson Executive Director of the Peace Management Initiative

in Jamaica, once these teenagers are out of school, they become fodder for the gangs they are

recruited by the gang members to carry out acts such as robberies, murder, rape etc.

(http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180121/young-dangerous-teenage-

gangsters-driving-crime-rate)

According to data compiled by the Jamaica Constabulary Force Statistics and Information

Management Unit, in 2018, 78 teenagers were arrested for shooting, 148 were arrested for

illegal possession of firearm, and 63 for robbery with aggravation. Assistant Commissioner of

Police Elan Powell reported that between the "ages of 14 to 17 are when they are most
interested in being a part of these gangs as because they are young and very impressionable.

(http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180121/young-dangerous-teenage-

gangsters-driving-crime-rate)

They want to get a 'stripe', and they try as hard as they can to get status within gangs," I’m

pretty sure no one held their hands and said come with me they all made a personal decision

to be a part of these gangs and engage in these activities to feel a sense of belonging.

Whilst juvenile delinquency cannot be completely eradicated, it can be prevented. This can

be done through stricter laws and punishment. Legislations should be put in place to ensure

that adolescents have options as not everyone will be a part of the formal system or be

interested in being a part of the formal systems. The building of community centres, skill

training centres and programmes for the unattached youth will provide a sense of belonging

for them. Substance abuse treatment, family counselling, individual counselling, parenting

education, family planning services and money management skills are other preventatives

that can also be explored. These will prevent juveniles from engaging in illegal behaviours

and will also prevent juvenile offenders from transitioning to adult offenders.
 References

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/lead-stories/20180121/young-dangerous-teenage-

gangsters-driving-crime-rate

https://www.impactlaw.com/criminal-law/juvenile/prevention

https://legaldictionary.net/juvenile-delinquency/

https://www.secureteen.com/juvenile-delinquency/juvenile-delinquency-what-makes-teens-

commit-crimes