NCJ Number
174971
Journal
Caribbean Journal of Criminology and Social Psychology Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: July 1997 Pages: 36-83
Date Published
1997
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This study explored the social background and psychological disposition of 486 young people in three juvenile homes in Trinidad and Tobago.
Abstract
Two of the juvenile homes contained males, while the other juvenile home contained only females. The study focused on what types of young people were more likely to enter juvenile homes and on rehabilitation possibilities. Offenses of juveniles sent to the homes ranged from misdemeanors and beyond parental control to serious crimes such as rape and murder. Questions were asked on offense committed, social and psychological background, remorse, self-responsibility, rehabilitation potential, and delinquency factors. Results showed 38 percent of young people were in homes for robbery or robbery-related crimes, with the highest proportion being boys 16 years of age or older. Only 2 percent of young girls under 16 years of age committed robbery. Over 40 percent of young people were placed in juvenile homes for being beyond parental control or running away from home, and over 80 percent of young girls committed such acts. The majority of young people came from working class backgrounds and homes without two parents, were of African descent, and had only primary school education. Young people expressed substantial optimism in improving themselves and in accepting responsibility for their actions and seemed quite amenable to rehabilitation. The authors discuss study findings in terms of existing delinquency theories. 69 references, 8 endnotes, 2 tables, and 5 figures