Topic

Juvenile Delinquency in my community

1

Statement of the problem

How has juvenile delinquency increased in my community?

What is the level of action taken against it?

2

Method of Investigation

To express my views more efficiently I have decided to use a questionnaire has my

method of investigation. A questionnaire will help me to know whether or not the views I had in

mind about juvenile delinquency is exactly what the residents have in their minds.

3

Researched Topic

1. What are the main causes of juvenile delinquency in your area?

2. What roles dose the community play in reducing or preventing juvenile delinquency?

3. How have parents challenged the problem of juvenile delinquency?

4

Rationale

Not only in Jamaica but also all over the world, juvenile delinquency is a frequent issue.

The causes and the way it is dealt with are considered importantly and so I took this time to

express my views and level of concern on this topic.

5

Procedures used to collect Data

A total at 20 questionnaires were prepared to be handed out to the residents. One week

before they were distributed, posters were placed in and around the community inviting resident

to consult me for a simple interview, this interview was to ensure that the present person have an

idea of the past history of the community including the knowledge of this specific social

problems i.e., knowing the status of juvenile from the past to present. Of the persons who made

consultations, 20 are recognized for qualification and given a questionnaire.

6

Cover letter

Trout hall district

Frankfield P.O.

Clarendon

January 4, 2011

Dear Sir/Madam

This is survey being carried out in Trout Hall in my community. To investigate the

problem of Juvenile Delinquency in the community as a part of a School Based Assessment for a

Social Studies course I am currently pursuing.

You are advised to answer the following questions with total honesty.

Since you are not required to write your name no one will know who answered what. The

answers receive will be kept confidential and used only for this research.

Thanks you for you kind cooperation.

Yours sincerely

Chris-Ann Cameron

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Questionnaire

The level and extent of juvenile delinquency in my community, causes and concerns.

Instructions: place a check in the box provided beside your most suitable answers. For specific

data lines are provided.

What gender are you?

Male

Female

Cause

What do you think is the most possible cause of juvenile delinquency in the community?

Poor parental guidance

Peer pressure

Abuse

Does parent and guardians play an active role in preventing children from being

delinquent?

Yes

No

Effect

What effect does juvenile delinquency has on the community’s children?

Positive

Negative

Other ________________________________________________________________________

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What are some of the risks juvenile delinquency imposes to the children who are

delinquents in the community?

Health risks

Self esteem

School disruption

Solution

What do you think is the most possible method of solution for juvenile delinquency in

this community?

Rehabilitation

Counseling

Organize more social events

Which of the alternative named above do you think children will be most cooperative

with?

I.

II.

III.

1. How long have you been residing in the community?

Over 10 years

6-10 years

1-5 years

Under 1 year

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2. Approximately what percentage of juvenile in your community do you think are

delinquents?

Over 25% but less than 50%

Over 50% but less than 100%

25% or under

100%

3. Among what age groups is juvenile delinquency most popular in your in community?

10-15 years

13-17 years

12-17years

15-17 years

Other_________________________________________________________________________

4. Who do you think are to held account for delinquents in this area?

Themselves

Parents

Other in the society

Person in society

5. What is the level of parental intervention to delinquents displayed in this area?

All parents of delinquents

Some parents of delinquents

Little or no parents of delinquent

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6. How does the parent of these delinquents do challenge their situation?

Neglect abuse

Seek help

7. What effect does the community have on these delinquents?

Positive

Negative

Sometimes positive

Sometimes negative

8. Does the effectiveness of the community on these children results in their delinquency?

Yes

No

9. What gender does juvenile delinquency mostly popular among in the community?

Male

Female

10. Do most these delinquents act in this way because of peer pressure?

Yes

No

11. Does the home influence children in being delinquent?

Yes

No

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12. What role does the society play in preventing children from becoming delinquent?

Negative

Formed recreational activities

Annual treat

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Presentation and Explanation of Data

A total of 20 questionnaires were handed out to the residents. The 20 were handed out and

returned 9% were female and 11% were male.

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Table 1 showing an approximate percentage of juvenile delinquency in this community.

No. of respondents Responses Percentage

6 Over 25 but less than 50 30%

2 25 or under 10%

4 Over 50 but less than 100 20%

8 100 40%

Table shows an approximate percentage of juvenile delinquency in this community. It

can be seen in the above representation that 6 of the respondents which is equivalent to 30% says

that over 25% but less than 50%, while 2 respondent which is equivalent to 10% which is the

minority of the responses says 25% or under. 4 respondents which is equivalent to 20% choose

over 50% but less than 100% and the majority which is the remaining 8 respondent equivalent to

40% choose 100%.

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Table 2 showing the level of parental intervention to delinquents displayed in the area.

No. of respondents Responses Percentage

5 All parents of delinquents 10%

2 Some parents of delinquents 25%

13 Little or no parents delinquent 65%

The above table shows the level of parent intervention in the cases of juvenile

delinquency 10% of respondents says all parents intervene in this problem. 25% thinks that only

some parents intervenes in the problems however the majority of respondents which is 65% says

little or no parental intervention occurs.

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Figure 3 pie chart showing how parents challenged the situation of Juvenile Delinquency.

55%

25%

15%

5%

Neglet

Abuse

Help off their own

Seek help

The above pie chart shows how parent challenged the situation of juvenile delinquency in

the community. It shows the majority of respondents which is 55% saying that parents neglect

their delinquent child or children, 20% abuse their children, 15% says that parents help off their

own while the minority which is the remaining 5% says parents seek help.

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KEY

Figure 4 pie chart showing the effect the community has the delinquent children.

40%

30%

20%

10%

Negative

Sometimes negative

Sometimes positive

Positive

The pie chart above represents the effect the community has on delinquent children. It

can be seen that the majority of respondents which amounted to 40% says that it has a negative

effect, 30% says that the community sometimes negative, 20% choose sometimes positive and

the minority which is the remaining 10% says the community has a positive effect on delinquent

children.

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KEY

Figure 5 bar graph showing the role the society play in preventing children from become delinquents.

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Neglect

Form community clubs

Formed annual treats

It can been seen that the majority which is 40% say that the society neglects delinquents,

while 35% says that the society forms community clubs, and the minority which is the remaining

25 says they formed annual treats.

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Interpretation of Data

The majority of respondent (55%) says that the community has a negative effect on its

children. It is the negative effect of the community on its children which caused most of the

children to be delinquents (75%).

The government neglects the community and its children which could also result in a unanimous

agreement by resident stating that approximately 100% of the children are delinquents.

Also most parents neglect the situation of juvenile delinquency (55%) or little or no parents

intervenes in this situation (65%)

In fact the negligence of the society, parents and the community to the children will only makes

more delinquents are worsen situation.

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Findings

The survey has revealed a number of effects that negligence (from the community,

society and parents) to delinquency in juvenile has on the juvenile themselves. Some of these

are outlined below.

1. There is little no intervention from society in juvenile delinquency in the area as indicated

by 40% of the residents; as a result, parents neglect these children. Since intervention

from the society would decrease the level of juvenile delinquency with the aid of parents.

2. The effect which the community displays is a negative one, the negative effect of the

community result in a high level of juvenile delinquency this was according to 75% of

the residents.

According to the residents: parents, the community and the society does little or nothing

to addressed juvenile delinquency or even to decrease its high level and as a result most if not all

of the children in the community are delinquents.

Recommendations

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It is important that the children of all communities are being fairly and respectively

treated. This is to ensure that they have some feeling of belonging and love.

It is the role of the community, society and parents to socialized with children giving them love

and attention in abundance, and displaying a good image for them to learn from. This is to

ensure that children don’t stray away from their family and the community in search for love and

attention. This is important since upon their search they could be faced by many obstacles

which will have a negative effect on their future to come. Socializing with children is important

also since through this process they will learn the positive and negative sides of life. With proper

socialization children should learn to abstain from negative activities. Displaying a good image

for children to follow is also very important since children “live what they learn”. This means

that as they grew gradually the events that they are exposed to will influence their behavior or

even their way of life.

This problem can be solved by the following measures:

Organizing Recreational Facilities to occupy the community’s children whenever school

is not in session.

Organize annual treats /events which will entertain the children in the community.

Form clubs and invite the children to be a part of the club activities. These clubs should

help to build on their self esteem. (With the aid of church halls etc.).

Organize community centers to facilitate for activities.

These measures should be carefully taken by the parent of children in the community, other

person in the community and the government from an early stage of childhood to prevent this

problem from occurring at teenage level.

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