Juvenile delinquency is a negative consequence of rapid industrialization and urbanization in the unorganized social system of the modern world. Rapid changes in family structure, risky environments in cities and slums, and anarchy and frustration in social life are the main reasons for the rise in juvenile delinquency. The broken tide of subculture is also largely responsible for this. Rabindranath Tagore said- ‘There is no such plague like thirteen or fourteen years’. Children of this age have indomitable hope and great curiosity about the world of life. Many times their lives fall into the darkness of despair due to despair caused by the hostile environment. Adolescents gradually become more prone to crime. Juvenile delinquency hinders the overall welfare of the country and the nation.
What is juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is an act committed by adolescents against the existing values and norms in the society. However, social values vary by state, city, village or area. Actions or behaviors that are contrary to values and principles in one society may not be the same in another.
"Juvenile delinquency is the illegal interference of juvenile delinquents on conventional social norms," said criminologist Bisler.
Adolescent crime is a special kind of abnormal and anti-social act that is committed by adolescents.
Characteristics of juvenile delinquency
Adolescents and minors get involved in crime without thinking. Affected by the surrounding conditions and risky environment in a very easy and short time. They commit crimes without purpose, out of curiosity or to reveal themselves to the public. The following features are seen in juvenile delinquency. E.g.
- Adolescents or minors commit such crimes
- Unable to keep pace with social organizations and activities in hostile environment, they take part in anti-social activities.
- It works against social values and rules and regulations.
- Adolescents prioritize their thoughts and actions as correct.
- Out of sheer enthusiasm and curiosity, he commits anti-social acts and crimes without any purpose.
- Adolescents become prone to crime over time if not corrected in time.
Types and nature of juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is on the rise as a social problem and in the criminal world. The prevalence and depth of juvenile delinquency is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Considering the overall aspect of Bangladesh, juvenile delinquency or criminal can be divided into four categories such as
1. Juvenile delinquents in urban areas.
2. Juvenile delinquents in rural areas.
3. Juvenile delinquents of lower and middle class families.
4. Juvenile delinquents from affluent families.
Among these juvenile delinquents, the main crimes are gambling; Intoxicate; Creating fights and chaos in the playground or educational institution; Going to the bus, train and cinema hall without a ticket, cheating in exams, throwing acid, snatching on the streets, beating, stealing fruits and crops from other people's gardens or fields etc.
Who are juvenile delinquents
Juvenile delinquents are those juveniles who do not learn to imitate social norms and practices in the process of socialization and participate in anti-social thoughts and activities. Juvenile delinquency is the most common crime committed by a teenager between the ages of 6 and 18. However, there are age differences in different countries. In some countries, a person between the ages of 13 to 22 and in some countries between the ages of 18 and 21 is considered a juvenile offender. Crime is not punishable by 14 years in Japan, 9 years in the Philippines and in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. If a person under the age of 18 commits a crime in Bangladesh, he will be considered as a juvenile offender. The behavior and actions of juvenile offenders are considered less criminal and the cause of the crime is given more importance. Correction is made without punishing for the crime committed.
Reasons for juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is on the rise in the less developed societies as well as in the industrialized and capitalist societies. Although the trend of juvenile delinquency has increased in post-independence Bangladesh, this trend has increased unimaginably in recent times. Existence in society, frustration, anarchy and poverty are the main causes of juvenile delinquency. Living inhumane living in a polluted environment of the city and illiteracy, hunger, poverty force teenagers to commit criminal acts like theft, robbery, pickpocketing. The main causes of juvenile delinquency as a whole are broken marriages and broken marriages where there is a lack of passion, love and security. Extreme poverty and neglect of parents. Child labor and forced child labor. Working with bad partners. Lack of adequate childcare as a working mother, excessive discipline, conservatism and conflicting parental mentality, use of teenagers in picketing by selfish and cunning politicians, lack of social, religious and moral education and infiltration of subcultures etc.