NCJ Number
68976
Journal
Social Defence Volume: 15 Issue: 58 Dated: (OCTOBER 1979) Pages: 5-15
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
PRESENT CONCEPTS, FORMS, AND CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN INDIA ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
WHEN PERSONS BETWEEN 7 AND 21 YEARS OF AGE COMMIT ACTS WHICH WOULD MAKE AN ADULT INDICTABLE UNDER THE PENAL CODE OR A SPECIAL ACT, THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF A SEPARATE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IN 1974, 6.3 PERCENT OF THIS GROUP WERE 7 TO 12 YEARS OLD, 14 PERCENT WERE 12 TO 16, 15.7 PERCENT WERE 16 TO 18, AND 64 PERCENT WERE 18 TO 21. ONLY ABOUT 6 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WERE FEMALES, BUT THEIR PROPORTION IS RISING DUE TO THE INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF FEMALES IN SOCIAL INTERACTION. THREE TYPES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS ARE ACTIVE: (1) THOSE WHO ARE GANG MEMBERS AND HABITUAL OFFENDERS AND WHO ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE CRIMINAL NATURE OF THEIR ACTS; (2) THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM CONSTRAINTS AND MALADJUSTMENTS WITHIN THEIR FAMILIES AND WHO ARE NOT FULLY CONSCIOUS OF COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS; AND (3) THOSE WHO BELONG IN A MARGINAL CATEGORY OF OFFENDERS WHO CONGREGATE IN GROUPS AND PARTICIPATE IN RIOTS, VANDALISM, EVE-TEASING, TICKETLESS TRAVELLING, AND SIMILAR UNPLANNED CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, AND WHO LACK ANY PAST DELINQUENT HISTORIES. WITH THE GROWTH OF URBANIZATION, DELINQUENCY HAS INCREASED BECAUSE OF THE ATTRACTIONS THE CITY PREESENTS TO MALADJUSTED YOUTHS IN RURAL AREAS. IN THE SLUMS, A DELINQUENT SUB-CULTURE IS GROWING IN WHICH THE NEWLY ARRIVED YOUTHS LEARN DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THEY ARE ATTRACTED BY THE LURE OF PROPERTY, MONEY, AND PLEASURABLE CONSUMPTION. WHILE YOUNGER AND LOWER CASTE DELINQUENTS OFTEN RETURN TO NORMALCY, THE OLDER AND UPPER CLASS DELINQUENTS FREQUENTLY BECOME ADULT CRIMINALS. FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES ARE NOT PROVIDED.