NCJ Number
245189
Journal
International Journal of Criminology and Sociology Volume: 1 Dated: 2012 Pages: 86-92
Date Published
2012
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper aims to present a strategy to prevent youth offending in South Africa.
Abstract
The strategy is motivated by research findings obtained from the study titled "Home and family circumstances of young offenders: A social worker's view" in 2007. The findings of this study revealed that socio-economic factors; inept parenting and socialization practices; exposure to inter-parental violence; sibling criminality; negative parent-child relationship; parental response to deviant behavior of the child as well as the lack of parental interest in the rehabilitation programs offered to their offending children increases the likelihood of a child partaking in criminal activities. This paper argues that in order to prevent youth offending South Africa should consider the importance of a stable home and family environment in the prevention of youth offending. Firstly, family planning is important. Secondly, parental involvement in a child's activities is vital to ensure proper supervision and monitoring. Thirdly, in the absence of adequate parenting skills, efficacy and management parenting programs could help parents learn a conforming manner of rearing their children. Lastly, once they have been caught committing a crime parents ought to take center stage to ensure that the child's behavioral transformation takes place. (Published Abstract)