Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61
Available Online at ESci Journals
International Journal of Agricultural Extension
ISSN: 2311-6110 (Online), 2311-8547 (Print)
http://www.escijournals.net/IJAE
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
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 juvenile delinquency. School staff members often
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* Corresponding Author:
Email: [email protected]
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57
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
Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61
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
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
level followed by the 27.1% farmers with middle level of
education. Exact one fifth respondents were having
maximum education of matriculation and above.
Unfortunately, in spite of education and understanding
they committed a crime and were captured in jail.
Table 1. Distribution of the respondents according to their education.
Education of the respondents
Frequency
Percentage
Uneducated
Primary
Middle
Metric and above
39
35
38
28
27.9
25.0
27.1
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
15-16 years
15
59
10.7
42.1
17-18 years
66
47.1
Total
140
100.0
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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61
Table 3. Distribution of the respondents according to their father’s educational status.
Father’s educational status
Frequency
Uneducated
56
Primary-Middle
30
Metric-intermediate
47
Above intermediate
7
Total
140
%age
40.0
21.4
33.6
5.0
100.0
Table 4. Distribution of the respondents according to their mother’s educational status.
Mother’s educational status
Frequency
Uneducated/illiterate
65
Primary-Middle
30
Metric-Intermediate
40
Above Intermediate
5
Total
140
Percentage
46.4
21.4
28.6
3.6
100.0
For educated mother least level was Primary- middle
to primary-middle level followed by only 3.6% of
and 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
91
65.0
15000-30000
42
30.0
Above 30000
7
5.0
Total
140
100.0
Data mentioned in Table 5 indicates that a large majority
indicated that most of the criminals were belonging to
i.e. 65.0% of the respondents had Rs. 5001-15000
poor families which were resource poor or were earning
monthly family income, 30.0% of them had Rs. 15001limited income. It can be said that poverty and wishes
30000 and remaining 5.0%t of them had above Rs.
for better life were leading these young children towards
30000 monthly family income. Findings summary
crime.
Table 6. Distribution of the respondents according to the type of crime which they committed.
Type of crime
Frequency
Murder
48
Theft
18
Dacoity
23
Pickpocket
2
Kidnapping
5
Prohibition abduction & rape
17
Narcotics
8
Any other
19
Total
140
%age
34.3
12.9
16.4
1.4
3.6
12.1
5.7
13.6
100.0
Table 6 presents the type of crime which they committed.
committed kidnapping, 12.1% of them involved in
About one-third i.e. 34.3% of the respondents were
prohibition abduction and rape, 5.7% of them were
involved in Murder case, while 12.9% of them told that they
involved in narcotics.
committed murder and 16.4% of them said that they
It can be said that Murder and Dacoity appeared major
remain involved in Dacoity. About 1.4% of the respondents
reasons. Murder is the outcome of conflicts while
of the respondents involved in pickpocket, 3.6% of them
Dacoity was performed just for income generation.
Hypothesis 1: Family structure will be influence the juvenile delinquency.
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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61
Table 7. Association between family structure and juvenile delinquency.
Juvenile delinquency
Family structure
Low
Medium
High
Low
3
4
14
14.3%
19.1%
66.7%
Medium
5
24
17
10.7%
52.2%
36.9%
High
18
50
5
24.7%
68.5%
6.8%
Total
26
78
36
18.6%
55.7%
25.7%
Chi-square = 18.85
d.f. = 6
Significance = .006**
**= Highly-Significant
Total
21
100.0%
46
100.0%
73
100.0%
140
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 highlystructure 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.
Juvenile delinquency
Peer group
Total
Low
Medium
High
Low
16
35
8
59
27.1%
59.3%
13.6%
100.0%
Medium
5
28
7
40
12.5%
70.0%
17.5%
100.0%
High
5
15
21
41
2.2%
36.6%
51.2%
100.0%
Total
26
78
36
140
18.6%
55.7%
25.7%
100.0%
Chi-square = 31.02
d.f. = 4
Significance = .000**
Gamma = .604
**= Highly-Significant
Table 8 presents the association between peer group
parents should avoid conflicting attitude in front of their
and juvenile delinquency. Chi-square value shows a
children. There is also a need for social therapy for such
highly-significant association between peer group and
parents through media, counselling and peer pressure.
the juvenile delinquency. Gamma value shows a strong
Mother’s education matters a lot in tending and mending
positive relationship between the variables. It means
the child behaviour in a positive manner, therefore, it is
poor group had more influence on the juvenile
emphasized to encourage female education. It is
delinquency. So the hypothesis “Peer group will be
common saying that the best school for a child is the lap
influence the juvenile delinquency” is accepted.
of a mother. Here, the government and NGO’s should
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
play vital role to improve the living conditions of slum
Juvenile delinquency is on the rise and the society at
areas. There is a dire need to provide community
large has to follow a holistic approach to arrest the rising
guidance centers, playing ground, parks etc.
trend of social evils. Based on the empirical results of the
Electronic media should disseminate positive message
study, following recommendations are made for the
for the encouragement and capacity building of youth.
policy makers, parents, civil society, public at large and
Juvenile offences are investigated through traditional
the law enforcing agencies. The conflict between parents
means and even the trials courts take long period to
is a strong variable for juvenile delinquency. Therefore,
decide for want of properly investigated cases in
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Int. J. Agr. Ext. 03 (01) 2015. 57-61
prosecution witnesses. Therefore, there should be
special investigation centers rather than traditional
police centers. The investigation officers should be
provided refresher courses in order to investigate the
juvenile crimes aptly and justly.
The minor juvenile offences should be treated as
probationary and the probation department must be up
graded and strengthened to handle juvenile
probationers. The reactivation of Reformatory Schools
and rehabilitation centers should be a priority and these
must be established at appropriate places to handle
juvenile convicts to groom them as better citizens.
The present two Borstal Institutions and juvenile jails
must be up graded and should be staffed with qualified
Sociologists/Anthropologists and Psychologists to
provide social counseling to the juvenile convicts.
Borstal Institutions should be adequately funded to
achieve th objectives of skill development of juveniles in
different and useful trades.
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REFERENCES
Becker, G. (1968). Crime and Punishment: An Economic
Approach. Journal of Political Economy
76(2):169-217.
Eadie, T. and R. Morley. (2003). ‘Crime, Justice and
Punishment’ in Baldock, J. et al. (eds) Social
Policy (3rd edn.) Oxford: Oxford University
Press
Javed, M., Z. Azhar, H.N. Anwar, M.M. Sohail. (2007).
Factors affecting to juvenile delinquency: a
study conducted at Borstal jails of Punjab. Asian
Journal of Empirical Research, 2(6),183-197.
Levitt, S. and L. Lochner. (2000). The Determinants of
Juvenile Crime. In J. Gruber (Ed.), "Risky
Behavior by Youths. University of Chicago Press.
United Nations. (2003). Juvenile Delinquency." World
Youth Report.