JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Group Members:

Kesian Bennett

Japhia Beckford

Rushard Blake

Crissia Graham

Astley James

Samantha Hewitt

Ariana Mason

Chadworth Tucker

Annika Carr

CAD NEWS

TOP STORIES

What is Juvenile Delinquency and how is it a social issue in Jamaica?

How is Juvenile Delinquency recognized in the teaching/learning environment?

The existing measures tackling the issue

Implications of Juvenile Delinquency for teachers and students in Jamaica

Relevant suggestions to combat this social issue in our country.

BREAKING NEWS

DEFINITION JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

According to Psychology Dictionary Juvenile Delinquency is

illegal behaviour by a minor that would be considered criminal

against the state (vandalism, petty theft, auto theft, arson, rape

etc) (2000).

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AS A SOCIAL ISSUE

Social Issue/ problem-Social problems are societal induced conditions that

harms any segment of the population. Social problems are also related to

acts and conditions that violate the norms and values found in society.

(Oxford Pocket Dictionary 2007)

Juvenile Delinquency is a social issue because it is an issue that affects

the society. It affects the government, community members and the

economy.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AS A SOCIAL ISSUE CONT’

It puts a strain on our government and economy because business

owners suffer huge losses and the government has to fund

facilities in order to promote the rehabilitation of juveniles.

HOW JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CAN BE RECOGNIZED IN THE

TEACHING/LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

In 2006 the Gleaner published an article entitled Addressing

Juvenile Delinquency. It highlighted the wounding of two teachers

at St. Thomas Technical High and Knowklva Technical High in

Hanover.

PICTURES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE

LEARNING/TEACHING ENVIRONMENT

STATISTICS FROM A WEST INDIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL

(2011)

A fifth of 15-19-year olds reported involvement in violence in the last

twelve months with males reporting a higher frequency than females.

Similar findings were reported in the Jamaica Youth Risk and Resiliency

survey (2005), a school based survey, among a nationally representative

sample of 10-15-year olds . Twenty-two per cent of male adolescents, 10-18

years, reported carrying weapons and seventeen per cent were involved in a

gang .

Crime statistics (1999) recorded that 13-19-year olds accounted for 24.2%

of persons arrested for murders, shootings, rape and carnal abuse . Despite

these daunting figures, it is important to note that the majority of

adolescents do not get involved in crime or violent behaviour.

STATISTICS FROM A WEST INDIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL

(2011) CONT’

In 2002, adolescent males accounted for 22% of total visits and 24% of injury visits to

the accident and emergency (A&E) departments of all government hospitals. As

adolescent males make up 10% of the total population, they are disproportionately

affected by violence. Children and young people, 15-24 years, make up 40% of

murder victims according to the national crime statistics.

In addition, the Caribbean Youth Survey reported that one out of every thirteen

students has been knocked unconscious at least once from a fight or other violent act.

Even where they are not direct victims of crime, many adolescents are affected. Over

30% of adolescents reported concern about fighting or violence issues at home while

50% worry about violence in their communities. Dealing in and using drugs

contribute significantly to crime and some adolescents are very aware of the violence

from drug deals going bad or from the protection of "turf" in their community and

school.

MEDIA SOURCES

In 2010 The Gleaner published an article entitled Juvenile Crime

spurs call for Western rehab center. Members of the JCF reported on

the number of cases of violence and criminal activities involving

teenage boys and girls. Homocides in the islands were nearing 1200

for that year alone with adolescents being the prominent

perpetrators!

MEDIA SOURCES CONT’

In January 2014 the Gleaner published an article entitled Prison Schools? Oh

come on! According to the JCF Reach, Planning & Legal Services Branch (RPLSB)

74% of inmates in Jamaica had attended non-traditional high schools. The

education Minister Ronald Thwaites stated that “criminals are not born they are

bred, and it is not the schools that have been churning at the bulk of misfits who

have added up in the country’s prisons. The schools do not create criminals by

themselves!”

FORMS OF DELINQUENCY

According to Bura (2007), there are four forms of delinquency:

Individual- one person is involved in the acts and this is said to be a result of psychological problems.

Group Supported- the acts are committed in companionship with others who are already delinquent.

Organized- formally organized groups governed by values and norms that govern behaviour.

Situational- deeply rooted, no deep commitments are involved, since the juvenile has little to lose if they get

caught. This is as a result of family restraints.

EXISTING MEASURES THAT ADDRESS JUVENILE

DELINQUENCY

The ministry of Justice received funding from the United Nations

Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the Child Protection Programme to

update the national plan of action for child justice (established in 2006).

The article also reported that children brought before a court will no

longer be sent to correctional facilities, instead they will be sent to

participate in diversionary programmes to facilitate their rehabilitation.

(The Daily Gleaner 2010)

EXISTING MEASURES THAT ADDRESS JUVENILE

DELINQUENCY

This is aligned with the UN Rules for Protection of Juveniles

Deprived of their liberty which was adopted by the General

Assembly Dec. 14. 1990.

Additionally, training sessions have been conducted in order to

facilitate in educating judges, prosecutors, clerks of court,

children’s officers etc in the area of child rights and responsibilities

and international protocol.

(The Gleaner 2010)

IMPLICATIONS ON TEACHERS

Emotional implication- The teacher my feel threaten by students

because of their social background. Teachers may also feel

discouraged to teach the class or even have emotional breakdowns;

however, Teachers will have to be firm, brave and vigilant in

handling their students.

IMPLICATIONS ON TEACHERS CONT’

Professional implication- Teachers may feel frustrated and start conducting themselves in unprofessional ways (shouting at the students, cursing, hitting).

Teachers may also be reluctant to go to class and will start to consider changing careers. Teachers will have to be determined to work with their students and build their self-motivation in an effort to remind themselves that they should remain professional at all times.

Additionally, teachers may have to help their students seek counseling and proper guidance. In an effort to help delinquent students, teachers will need to call in parents or guardians to discover the root cause of delinquency and how best to approach the issue.

IMPLICATIONS ON STUDENTS

School attrition- students will feel discouraged to attend classes. They may start

skipping classes and eventually stop attending school. Students will have to seek

counselling and motivation and assist the teachers in putting a stop to

delinquency in the classroom.

Bullying- Students in the class may be bullied by delinquent students. Some may

even be pressured to join the other delinquents. Students need to be firm and

stand up for themselves and stop letting others take advantage of them.

RELEVANT SUGGESTIONS

The implementation of Safe School officers

Effective PTA’s

Conducting workshops and seminars with students, parents

and guidance counsellors.

REFERENCES

American Psychology Association. (2000). Juvenile Delinquency . Retrieved March 22, 2014, from Society Website: http://www.apa.org/topics/juveniledelinqency/index.aspx

Bura, R. (2007). What are the four main types of juvenile delinquency. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from Society Website: www.preservearticles.com

National Plan of Action for Child Justice. (2011). PDF. Oxford Pocket School Dictionary. (2007). Oxford University press The Daily Gleaner. (2006). Addressing juvenile delinquency. Print. The Daily Gleaner. (2010). Government gets funding for juvenile-rehab drive. Print. The Daily Gleaner. (2010). Juvenile crime spurs call for western rehab centre. Print.

REFERENCES CONT’

The Sunday Gleaner. (2007). Inner city youths exposed to violence more delinquent. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from: http://jamaica-

gleaner.com/gleaner/20071028/news/

The Daily Gleaner. (2014). Prison Schools? Oh come on! Print.

West Indian Medical Journal. (2011). Vol.60 no.2 Mona. Retrieved March 26, 2014, from: http://caribbean.scielo.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&p