Juvenile Delinquent in Society

• NCJ Number: 76656
• Journal: Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1981) Pages: 44-50
• Author(s): B K Nagla
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: India
• Note: Paper presented at the seminar on 'Child, Law and Parenthood' held at FPAI Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra on December 8-9, 1979.

Annotation

Sociological theories of juvenile delinquency are explained, and empirical facts about delinquency, with special reference to India, are presented.

Abstract

All sociological explanations of delinquency maintain that social variables and structures, not biological or psychological characteristics, are responsible for delinquent behavior. Merton and Durkheim have shown how the discrepancy between institutional means available and goals desired can produce strain leading to delinquency. Other theorists show how delinquency and crime are transmitted from one group to another and how stable criminal patterns can result from this learning process. Mead explains how delinquency is incorporated into an identity and perpetuated as a role. Cohen, Cloward, and Ohlin also emphasize strain from the social system as an impetus for delinquent behavior; however, the delinquent behavior they describe is viewed as reactive against the dominant middle-class system and its social institutions. Whether or not particular behaviors by juveniles are considered delinquent depends upon a specific community's definition of delinquency, the specificity of the law in a particular area, the perceptions of the juvenile judge in a particular jurisdiction, the policies of law enforcement in a given area, and parents' values about the behavior of juveniles. Thefts, pickpocketing, and car theft are the three most common crimes of juveniles in India. Those apprehended come largely from the lower middle class. Most of the cases of delinquency are from the age group of 11 to 16. A rapid increase in delinquency for both boys and girls has occurred in India between 1966 and 1976. Generally, the rate of increase is higher for girls. The problem of juvenile delinquency is becoming more and more complex in India because of the effects of urbanization and industrialization on family structure and environment. Tabular data on juvenile delinquency rates in India are provided, along with 29 references.