Public Participation in Delinquency Control

• NCJ Number: 79056
• Journal: Social Defence Volume: 16 Issue: 61 Dated: (July 1980) Pages: 5-17
• Author(s): S P Srivastava
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: India
• Note: Based on a paper presented at the National Seminar on Delinquency Control, New Delhi, March 13-16, 1980.

Annotation

This essay notes the global drive toward citizen participation in delinquency prevention, describes the current status of such programs in India, and outlines steps for their further development.

Abstract

Voluntary organizations acting on behalf of destitute, victimized, and exploited children have been active in India since the 1920's and paved the way for the enactment and implementation of children acts throughout the country, which pertain to the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency. Since 1974, the Government of India has been providing funding of up to 90 percent to voluntary organizations for the expansion of institutional and noninstitutional services for children between 5 and 18 years of age who need care and protection. A 1978 resolution by the National Children Board vowed that every destitute child in the country should be taken care of within a period of 5 years. Despite the rhetoric, inadequate public participation in crime prevention work exists. The public is ill-informed of the purpose or philosophy of juvenile corrections. Citizens are unwilling to support community-based corrections because they lack confidence in correctional workers, who have failed to pursue positive public relations. Juvenile corrections workers similarly distrust public support and volunteer involvement. Studies of such agencies have revealed that their management staff are ill-suited for welfare work, have failed to tap private sources for financial support, and mismanage the government funds allocated to their organizations. Public participation in the prevention and control of juvenile delinquency requires planning and involvement at the highest government levels, as well as endorsement, stimulation, and implementation by all directly involved criminal justice sectors. An intensive public education drive should be undertaken to make people social-service minded, neighborhood councils should be established, and government patronage of voluntary agencies should be increased. Seven references are given.