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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61

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International Journal of Agricultural Extension ISSN: 2311-6110 (Online), 2311-8547 (Print)

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SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: A STUDY IN BORSTAL JAILS, PUNJAB Nasreen Akhter, Mehwish Sabeen, Muhammad Nadeem, Hafiz U. Khan Department of Rural Sociology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT Juvenile Delinquency refers to criminal acts committed by children or teenagers, particularly less than eighteen years of age. Juvenile delinquency known as juvenile offending or youth crime is participation in illegal behavior by minors (juveniles) individuals younger than the statutory age of majority. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles like juvenile detention centres and courts. Common sentiment on this issue is that the crimes they commit affect society and offend the children. Present study explored the juvenile delinquents and their main socio-economic factors leading them to commit a crime. Study was conducted in Faisalabad and Bahawalpur districts of Punjab province. Two borstal institutions and juvenile jails are located for juvenile’s rehabilitation in study districts. The respondents were male delinquents of 13-18 years age living in the selected districts. Total 140 respondents (70 from each jail) were selected through simple random sampling technique. Data were collected with the help of a well-designed interview schedule. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings revealed that about 72% respondents were literate with maximum age of 17-18 years (47.1%). Majority of respondents’ parents were educated. However, 40% fathers and 46.4% mothers were found illiterate. About 65% respondents’ annual income was falling in between 5000-15000 clarifying their state of poverty. Therefore, children were compelled to join bad acts like Dacoity, theft etc. about 34.3% respondents committed a murder followed by 16.4% performed Dacoity and 12.9 indulged in theft. Chi Square analysis accepted both of the hypotheses that Family structure influence the juvenile delinquency and Peer group influence the juvenile delinquency. Study recommended that to keep children safe from social evil its mandatory to monitor their activities and treat them with affection and equality. Electronic media should disseminate positive messages for the youth encouragement and capacity building. Keywords: Factors, Punjab, Jail, Education

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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61

INTRODUCTION Delinquency a legal term for criminal behavior carried out by a juvenile is often the result of Escalating problematic behavior. Definitions of delinquency vary among different groups. To alleviate confusion we describe three perspectives on delinquency. First perspective depicts parental concerns about juvenile delinquency. Parents may define disruptive and delinquent behavior in case of disobedience, fighting with siblings destroying or damaging property, stealing money from family members or threatening parents with violence. Second perspective is educational view ______________________________________about delinquency. School staff often____________________________

juvenile members

* Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected] © 2015 ESci Journals Publishing. All rights reserved. regard delinquent behavior which disturbs classroom learning, violates the school code of conduct and threatens the safety of faculty and students. Third perspective is mental health assessment about juvenile delinquency (Javed et al., 2007). Juvenile delinquency is at the forefront of social challenges globally. This concern interrupts economic development as youth crime rates are rising in virtually every part of the world. The delicate intersection between childhood and criminality creates a complex dilemma to deal with. Social scientists, activists, and legislators are all debating both the causes and potential solutions (United Nations, 2003). Extreme poverty, negligence from all sides, the sexual urge, educational and financial problems and demands of the growing age lead people to adopt unfair means in order to meet and satisfy their urges. The youth should be taught about effective code of conduct through education to let them learn how to behave in the scheme of the society. The juveniles should be treated commendably and should be kept away from the senior criminals to reduce the likelihood of becoming criminals (Eadie and Morley, 2003). The literature has found several determinants of juvenile criminal involvement (Levitt and Lochner, 2000). Biological factors like being male, having low intelligence and short time horizon are anticipated as precise determinants of crime. Family background factors like erratic parental discipline, lack of adequate supervision and maternal rejection are strongly linked with crime

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involvement. Social factors including income inequality and marginalization also exert significant influence on delinquent behavior among youth in particular. Becker (1968) had reported that juvenile delinquency could be thought of a rational response to the incentives for legal and criminal activities. According the estimation youths will engage in criminal behavior if the potential gains are large enough and the likelihood of substantial punishment is relatively low. Thus, keeping in view the above facts present study "socio-economic factors affecting juvenile delinquency" was designed with emphasis on following objectives:. • •

To investigate the background characteristics of the Juveniles To assess the respondents extent of involvement in juvenile offense.

To suggest measures to reduce juvenile delinquency in the society. METHODOLOGY Any set of individuals or objects having common observable characteristics constitute a population or universe. Due to accessibility and feasibility reasons the study was limited to only two prisons. All the prisoners below 18 years of age were assumed as study population. The study was conducted at Faisalabad and Bahawalpur Districts in Punjab Province, where two Borstal Institutions and Juvenile Jails are located for juvenile’s rehabilitation. Complete list of prisoners of less than 18 years of age was prepared to draw sampling frame. From the each selected jail 70 respondents were selected using simple random sampling technique thereby making a sample size of 140 total respondents. All the respondents selected were male and of age in between 13-18 years. Interview schedule was used as research instrument. Data were collected using face to face interviews of the respondents. Collected data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Chi square test was also applied to probe the association between dependent and independent variables. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Data depicted in Table 1 is illustration of educational status of the respondents. It appeared from the data that about slightly greater than one fourth (27.9%) respondents were illiterate. Findings infer that these people had ever been given an opportunity to attend the formal institution for education. Rest of the 72.1% respondents were having education of varied level. For instance, 25% respondents were educated of primary •

Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61

level followed by the 27.1% farmers with middle level of Unfortunately, in spite of education and understanding they committed a crime and were captured in jail. education. Exact one fifth respondents were having maximum education of matriculation and above. Table 1. Distribution of the respondents according to their education. Education of the respondents

Frequency

Percentage

Uneducated

39

27.9

Primary

35

25.0

Middle

38

27.1

Metric and above

28

20.0

Total

140

100.0

Table 2. Distribution of the respondents according to their age. Age of the respondents (in years)

Frequency

Percentage

13-14 years

15

10.7

15-16 years

59

42.1

17-18 years

66

47.1

Total

140

100.0

Table 3. Distribution of the respondents according to their father’s educational status. Father’s educational status Frequency

%age

Uneducated Primary-Middle Metric-intermediate Above intermediate Total

40.0 21.4 33.6 5.0 100.0

56 30 47 7 140

Table 4. Distribution of the respondents according to their mother’s educational status. Mother’s educational status Uneducated/illiterate Primary-Middle Metric-Intermediate Above Intermediate Total

Frequency 65 30 40 5 140

Percentage 46.4 21.4 28.6 3.6 100.0 middle level followed by only 3.6% of

For educated mother least level was Primary- middle to primaryand maximum level was above intermediate level. respondents mothers qualified to maximum level of Greater than one fifth respondents mothers were literate intermediate education. Table 5. Distribution of the respondents according to their monthly family income. Monthly family income (Rs.) Frequency %age 5000-15000 15000-30000 Above 30000 Total

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91 42 7

65.0 30.0 5.0

140

100.0

Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61

Data mentioned in Table 5 indicates that a large majority indicated that most ch were of theresource criminals poor were or were belonging earning to poor families whi limited income. can be and sa for better i.e. 65.0% of the respondents had Rs. 5001-15000 id thatItpoverty wishes life were crime. monthly family income, 30.0% of them had Rs. leading these young children towards 1500130000 and remaining 5.0%t of them had abovethe Rs. type of crime which they committed. 30000 monthly family income. Findings summary Table 6. Distribution of the respondents according to Type of crime Murder Theft Dacoity Pickpocket Kidnapping Prohibition abduction & rape Narcotics Any other Total

Frequency

%age

48 18 23 2 5 17 8 19 140

34.3 12.9 16.4 1.4 3.6 12.1 5.7 13.6 100.0

respondents of the respondents involved in pickpocket, 3.6% of them committed kidnapping, 12.1% of them Table 6 presents the type of crime which they committed. involved in prohibition abduction and rape, 5.7% of them About one-third i.e. 34.3% of the respondents were were involved in narcotics. involved in Murder case, while 12.9% of them told that It can be said that Murder and Dacoity appeared major they committed murder and 16.4% of them said that they reasons. Murder is the outcome of conflicts while Dacoity remain involved in Dacoity. About 1.4% of the was performed just for income generation. Hypothesis 1: Family structure will be influence the juvenile delinquency. Table 7. Association between family structure and juvenile delinquency. Family structure Low Medium High

Total Chi-square = 18.85 **= Highly-Significant

Juvenile delinquency

Total

Low

Medium

High

3

4

14

21

14.3%

19.1%

66.7%

100.0%

5

24

17

46

10.7%

52.2%

36.9%

100.0%

18

50

5

73

24.7%

68.5%

6.8%

100.0%

26

78

36

140

18.6% d.f. = 6

55.7% Significance = .006**

25.7%

100.0% Gamma = .396

Table 7 presents the association between family structure relationship between the variables. It means poor family and juvenile delinquency. Chi-square value shows a highly- structure had more influence on the juvenile delinquency as significant association between family structure and the compared to high family structure. So the hypothesis “Family juvenile delinquency. Gamma value shows a negative structure will influence the juvenile delinquency” is accepted. Hypothesis 2: Peer group will be influence the juvenile delinquency. Table 8. Association between peer group and juvenile delinquency.

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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61

Peer group Low Low Medium High

Total

Juvenile delinquency Medium

Total High

16

35

8

59

27.1%

59.3%

13.6%

100.0%

5

28

7

40

12.5%

70.0%

17.5%

100.0%

5

15

21

41

2.2%

36.6%

51.2%

100.0%

26

78

36

140

18.6% d.f. = 4

55.7% 25.7% 100.0% Chi-square = 31.02 Significance = .000** Gamma = .604 **= Highly-Significant investigation centers rather than traditional police centers. The investigation officers should be provided Table 8 presents the association between peer group and refresher courses in order to investigate the juvenile juvenile delinquency. Chi-square value shows a highlycrimes aptly and justly. significant association between peer group and the juvenile delinquency. Gamma value shows a strong The minor juvenile offences should be treated as positive relationship between the variables. It means poor probationary and the probation department must be up group had more influence on the juvenile delinquency. So graded and strengthened to handle juvenile probationers. the hypothesis “Peer group will be influence the juvenile The reactivation of Reformatory Schools and delinquency” is accepted. rehabilitation centers should be a priority and these must CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS be established at appropriate places to handle juvenile convicts to groom them as better citizens. The present Juvenile delinquency is on the rise and the society at large two Borstal Institutions and juvenile jails must be up has to follow a holistic approach to arrest the rising trend graded and should be staffed with qualified of social evils. Based on the empirical results of the study, Sociologists/Anthropologists and Psychologists to following recommendations are made for the policy provide social counseling to the juvenile convicts. Borstal makers, parents, civil society, public at large and the law Institutions should be adequately funded to achieve th enforcing agencies. The conflict between parents is a objectives of skill development of juveniles in different strong variable for juvenile delinquency. Therefore, and useful trades. parents should avoid conflicting attitude in front of their REFERENCES children. There is also a need for social therapy for such Becker, G. (1968). Crime and Punishment: An Economic parents through media, counselling and peer pressure. Mother’s education matters a lot in tending and mending Approach. Journal of Political the child behaviour in a positive manner, therefore, it is Economy 76(2):169-217. emphasized to encourage female education. It is common Eadie, T. and R. Morley. (2003). ‘Crime, Justice and saying that the best school for a child is the lap of a Punishment’ in Baldock, J. et al. (eds) Social Policy mother. Here, the government and NGO’s should play vital (3rd edn.) Oxford: Oxford University Press role to improve the living conditions of slum areas. There Javed, M., Z. Azhar, H.N. Anwar, M.M. Sohail. (2007). is a dire need to provide community guidance centers, Factors affecting to juvenile delinquency: a study playing ground, parks etc. Electronic media should conducted at Borstal jails of Punjab. Asian Journal disseminate positive message for the encouragement and of Empirical Research, 2(6),183-197. capacity building of youth. Levitt, S. and L. Lochner. (2000). The Determinants of Juvenile offences are investigated through traditional Juvenile Crime. In J. Gruber (Ed.), "Risky means and even the trials courts take long period to Behavior by Youths. University of Chicago Press. decide for want of properly investigated cases in United Nations. (2003). Juvenile Delinquency." World prosecution witnesses. Therefore, there should be special Youth Report.

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