COMMITMENT AND DELINQUENCY IN INDIA (FROM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ON CORRECTIONS - PROCEEDINGS, 1979, BY V FOX - SEE NCJ-59373)

• NCJ Number: 59377
• Author(s): C M HARTNETT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Ctr for Professional Development and Public Service; Florida State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE THEORY THAT CERTAIN FEATURES OF THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS ACCOUNT FOR THE RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN INDIA IS EXPLORED IN THIS PAPER.

Abstract

THE DATA REPORTED WERE GATHERED OVER A 3-MONTH PERIOD, AND WERE DERIVED FROM LECTURES, LIBRARY RESEARCH AND FACULTY INTERVIEWS AT OSMANIA UNIVERSITY IN HYDERABAD, INDIA. DATA SHOWED THAT IN INDIA OF 1969, ONLY 2.5 PERCENT OF ALL OFFICIAL CRIME WAS COMMITTED BY PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS. IN COMPARISON, 20.5 PERCENT OF ALL PERSONS ARRESTED FROM CRIMES IN THE UNITED STATES DURING THE SAME PERIOD WERE UNDER 18 YEARS. ALTHOUGH CRIME MAY BE UNDERREPORTED IN INDIA, RECORDS CONSISTENTLY REVEAL THAT DELINQUENCY IS A RARE OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST FEATURE OF HINDU SOCIALIZATION WHICH MAY ACCOUNT FOR THIS FACT IS DHARMA, A CONCEPT WHICH COMBINES VIRTUE, DUTY, MORALITY, AND CONFORMITY TO THE LAW IN ITS DEFINITION. DHARMA REFERS TO THE MORAL OBLIGATION TO ACT RESPONSIBLY IN FULFILLING ONE'S ROLE. HINDU EDUCATORS STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MORAL CODE SET OF NORMS OF EXPECTED BEHAVIOR IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. FAMILY INTEGRATION MAY ALSO BE A FACTOR IN THAT MOST INDIAN FAMILIES WORK AND RECREATE TOGETHER; THUS, THERE IS LITTLE AGE SEGREGATION AND LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH SUBCULTURES TO DEVELOP. INDIAN YOUTH NATURALLY ACQUIRE A COMMITMENT TO ADULT ROLES IN SUCH AN AGE-INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, CONCERN FOR THE FAMILY NAME AND REPUTATION IS OBSERVABLE IN INDIAN SOCIETY. A FINAL FACTOR TO BE CONSIDERED IS THE RESPONSIBILITY BUSINESSMEN ASSUME TO PROTECT THEIR MERCHANDISE. FOR MANY AMERICAN YOUTH, SHOPLIFTING IN SUPERMARKETS AND OTHER LARGE STORES IS ONE OF THE FIRST OCCASIONS TO BREAK THE LAW. IN INDIA, HOWEVER, SHOPLIFTING IS UNCOMMON BECAUSE MERCHANTS CONSIDER IT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GUARD THEIR MERCHANDISE. CONSISTENCY AND STRUCTURE IN THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS ARE NECESSARY, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THEIR SUCCESS IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION IN THE INDIAN CULTURE. THE NEAREST APPROXIMATION TO SUCH AN APPROACH IN CRIMINOLOGY TODAY IS THE CONTAINMENT THEORY. REFERENCES AND SOME STATISTICAL INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)