Authors
Shweta Nitin Mahajan, Aditi Usha Tigga
Abstract
Juveniles in conflict with law are a significant part of society requiring special attention. They are a vulnerable population driven by a wide range of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. Understanding these elements is critical to establishing effective interventions and policies. The purpose of this study is to explore the sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics associated with juveniles in conflict with the law. The goal was to find trends in the key characteristics such as age, education, type of offenses, family dynamics etc. The study used an exploratory research design, with 21 juveniles identified through purposive sampling in Ahmedabad, Gujarat - India. Data was collected using structured interviews that comprised both open-ended and closed-ended questions. A descriptive statistical analysis was carried out to describe the data. The results revealed a complex profile of various sociodemographic & psychosocial parameters, reflecting substantial trends in all of them. These findings illustrate the multidimensional factors that influence juveniles in conflict with law and is compared with respect to global context. Understanding these factors and the role they play will allow stakeholders to build more effective prevention and mitigation methods for these adolescents. Keywords: Juvenile in conflict with law, Psychosocial factors, Delinquent behavior, Profiling
Introduction
Juvenile delinquency is a legal term that refers to unlawful behavior by a minor, or someone who is under the age of majority. It's also known as juvenile offending. Juvenile delinquency remains a pressing concern in modern society, particularly in developing nations like India, where rapid urbanization and socioeconomic changes have led to new challenges for youth. The complex interplay of sociodemographic and psychosocial factors that contribute to children coming into conflict with the law necessitates a thorough examination to inform effective interventions and policies. As Justice Sanjiv Khanna of the Supreme Court of India and Executive Chairman of NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) quoted: "Criminals are made by circumstances. No one is a born criminal. The path towards criminality is often a result and consequence of experiences and circumstances mostly shaped by neglect, external influences or lack of guidance"
This profound statement underscores the critical importance of understanding the environmental, familial, and individual factors that shape a child's trajectory towards delinquent behavior. It emphasizes that juvenile delinquency is not an inherent trait, but rather a consequence of various external influences and life experiences. The scale of juvenile delinquency in India is significant and warrants urgent attention. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report of 2021, a total of 29,768 cases involving juveniles in conflict with law were registered, showing a 4.7% increase from the previous year (NCRB). Of these cases, 67.8% involved juveniles in the 16-18 years age group, highlighting the particular vulnerability of older adolescents. Moreover, the report indicated that 72.2% of juveniles in conflict with law belonged to families with an annual income of less than ₹1,00,000, emphasizing the role of economic factors in juvenile delinquency (NCRB).
The developmental pathway to juvenile delinquency is multifaceted, with risk factors emerging as early as the prenatal period and evolving through infancy, toddlerhood, middle childhood, and adolescence (Shader, 2003). These risk factors span various domains, including individual characteristics, family dynamics, school experiences, peer influences, and community environments. Recent studies have highlighted the significance of early childhood experiences in shaping future behavior, with factors such as maternal substance abuse during pregnancy, parental criminality, and exposure to domestic violence significantly increasing the likelihood of juvenile delinquency (Gubbels et al., 2019).
References
Aizer, Anna, and Joseph J. Doyle. “Juvenile Incarceration, Human Capital, and Future Crime: Evidence From Randomly Assigned Judges .” The Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 130, no. 2, Feb. 2015, pp. 759–803.
Alboukordi, Sajad, et al. “Predictive Factors for Juvenile Delinquency: The Role of Family Structure, Parental Monitoring and Delinquent Peers.” International Journal of Criminology and Sociological Theory, vol. 5, no. 1, May 2012,
Alderman, Elizabeth M., et al. “Unique Needs of the Adolescent.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 144, no. 6, Nov. 2019.
Besemer, Sytske, et al. “A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Intergenerational Transmission of Criminal Behavior.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 37, Oct. 2017, pp. 161–78.
Cicchetti, Dante, and Fred A. Rogosch. “A Developmental Psychopathology Perspective on Adolescence.” Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 70, no. 1, Jan. 2002, pp. 6–20.
Cottle, Cindy C., et al. “The Prediction of Criminal Recidivism in Juveniles.” Criminal Justice and Behavior, vol. 28, no. 3, June 2001, pp. 367–94.
Duncan, Greg J., and Katherine Magnuson. “Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Functioning: Moving From Correlation to Causation.” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Cognitive Science, vol. 3, no. 3, Apr. 2012, pp. 377–86.
Ellis, Lee, and James N. McDonald. “Crime, Delinquency, and Social Status.” Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, vol. 32, no. 3, Jan. 2001, pp. 23–52.
Enzmann, Dirk, et al. “Self-reported Youth Delinquency in Europe and Beyond: First Results of the Second International Self-Report Delinquency Study in the Context of Police and Victimization Data.” European Journal of Criminology, vol. 7, no. 2, Mar. 2010, pp. 159–83.
Espelage, Dorothy L., and Susan M. Swearer. “Research on School Bullying and Victimization: What Have We Learned and Where Do We Go From Here?” School Psychology Review, vol. 32, no. 3, Sept. 2003, pp. 365–83.
Graf, Gloria Huei-Jong, et al. “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Justice System Contact: A Systematic Review.” PEDIATRICS, vol. 147, no. 1, Dec. 2020.
Green, Cailyn. “Defining Polysubstance Use in Adolescents: A Letter to the Editor.” Journal of Substance Use, vol. 29, no. 4, Apr. 2023, p. 625.
Gubbels, Jeanne, et al. “Risk Factors for School Absenteeism and Dropout: A Meta-Analytic Review.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 48, no. 9, July 2019, pp. 1637–67.
Gupta, Archit et al. “Sociodemographic characteristics and aggression quotient among children in conflict with the law in India: A case-control study.” The National medical journal of India vol. 28,4 (2015): 172-5.
Gupta, MadhuKumari, et al. “Juvenile’s Delinquent Behavior, Risk Factors, and Quantitative Assessment Approach: A Systematic Review.” Indian Journal of Community Medicine, vol. 47, no. 4, Jan. 2022, p. 483.
Hazan, Cindy, and Phillip Shaver. “Romantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment Process.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 52, no. 3, Jan. 1987, pp. 511–24.
Hoeve, Machteld, et al. “A Meta-analysis of Attachment to Parents and Delinquency.” Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, vol. 40, no. 5, Jan. 2012, pp. 771–85.
Hoffman, Kristi, and Ronald L. Akers. “Criminological Theories: Introduction, Evaluation and Application.” Teaching Sociology, vol. 28, no. 4, Oct. 2000, p. 403.
Jolliffe, Darrick, et al. “Systematic Review of Early Risk Factors for Life-course-persistent, Adolescence-limited, and Late-onset Offenders in Prospective Longitudinal Studies.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 33, Jan. 2017, pp. 15–23.
Mallett, Christopher A., et al. “Factors Related to Recidivism for Youthful Offenders.” Criminal Justice Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, July 2012, pp. 84–98.
McLoyd, Vonnie C. “Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Child Development.” American Psychologist, vol. 53, no. 2, Feb. 1998, pp. 185–204.
Menon, Sujeeta E., and Susan A. McCarter. “Make Juvenile Justice More Just: Raise-the-Age to 20 Years Old.” Journal of Policy Practice and Research, vol. 2, no. 2, May 2021, pp. 119–39.
Mitchell, Colter, et al. “Family Structure Instability, Genetic Sensitivity, and Child Well-Being.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 120, no. 4, Jan. 2015, pp. 1195–225.
Nieuwbeerta, Paul, et al. “A Life-Course Analysis of Offense Specialization Across Age: Introducing a New Method for Studying Individual Specialization Over the Life Course.” Crime & Delinquency, vol. 57, no. 1, Sept. 2010, pp. 3–28.
Pushpender, and Desraj Sabharwal. “Juvenile Delinquency in India: A Sociological Study.” IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, by IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science, June 2023, pp. 01–09.
Rekker, Roderik, et al. “Moving in and Out of Poverty: The Within-Individual Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Juvenile Delinquency.” PLoS ONE, vol. 10, no. 11, Nov. 2015, p. e0136461.
Rumberger, Russell W. “Dropping Out: Why Students Drop Out of High School and What Can Be Done About It.” Choice Reviews Online, vol. 49, no. 08, Apr. 2012, pp. 49–4595.
Smith, Douglas A., and Patrick R. Gartin. “Specifying Specific Deterrence: The Influence of Arrest on Future Criminal Activity.” American Sociological Review, vol. 54, no. 1, Feb. 1989, p. 94.
Sulloway, Frank J., and Richard L. Zweigenhaft. “Birth Order and Risk Taking in Athletics: A Meta-Analysis and Study of Major League Baseball.” Personality and Social Psychology Review, vol. 14, no. 4, Apr. 2010, pp. 402–16.
Touloumakos, Anna K., and Alexia Barrable. “Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Protective and Therapeutic Potential of Nature.” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 11, Nov. 2020.
How to cite this article?
| APA Style | Mahajan, S. N., & Tigga, A. U. (2024). Psychosocial Profiling Of Children In Conflict With Law: An Exploratory Study In India. Academic Journal of Forensic Sciences, 07(02), 66–82. |
| Chicago Style | |
| MLA Style | |
| DOI | |
| URL |