JUVENILE DELINQUENCY- AN ANALYSIS OF

CAUSAL FACTORS

A Case Study Approach

Prepared By:

Aayushi Bagga

(13BLS004)

Vaishnavi Venugopalan

(13BLS110)

INTRODUCTION:

Juvenile Delinquency refers to anti-social behaviour by

persons under the legal age of majority. The word

“delinquency” has been derived from the Latin “delinquent”,

meaning ‘offending’.

Legally speaking, “a juvenile delinquent is a person between

the ages of 15 and 17 who indulges in antisocial activity.” [R.

Sharma & R. Sharma, Advanced Applied Psychology, Volume II, 2004]. The laws

for this differ from country to country; however the limits

lie within the ages of 16 and 20. In India, under the Juvenile

Justice Act of 2000, a juvenile is an individual, either male

or female (as opposed to previous Acts, which drew

distinctions between the genders), who has committed a crime,

and as of the date of committing the crime, has not completed

eighteen years of age.

Under the same Act, special provisions are made for children

living in exceptionally difficult situations. These are legal

and infrastructural provisions made for secure education

(Article 28), health (Article 24), family protection (Articles

18 and 27), provisions to combat illicit trade (Article 11),

against violence (Article 19) and torture (Article 37),

against child employment (Article 32) and for sensitizing

dealings delinquents (Article 40//).

The psychological formalization of the term “Juvenile

Delinquent” is however, more all-encompassing. It includes all

children between the ages of 15 and 17, irrespective of sex,

who indulge in anti-social behaviour, even though the

individual has not been apprehended for the same behaviour.

Though this is the formally accepted definition of juvenile

delinquency, anyone doing research in this field will find

that this is a highly subjective concept. This is not just due

to the cultural subjectivity of the parameters on which anti-

social behaviour is defined, but also due to class, age,

upbringing etc.

“For example, the overt manifestations of delinquent behaviour

may differ widely, even within a common culture, as a function

of social class differences in the family background of the

youth. The “sowing of wild oats” in the behaviour of the

middle class youth may be glossed over by the parents who

arrange for dismissal of court proceedings; on the other hand,

the same behaviour in lower class youth often constitutes

grounds for court action and a police record, or even penal

sentence.” [McDavid &McCandless, Psychological Theory, Research, and Juvenile

Delinquency in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 1962]

The distinction between crime and juvenile delinquency is three-fold:

a. Difference of age: as elucidated above, a criminal below

a certain stated age is deemed a juvenile delinquent,

while one not conforming to any age limitations is called

simply a criminal.

b. Difference of action: There is usually a marked

difference between the criminal actions of juvenile

delinquents and criminals. Juvenile delinquents are

usually vagrants who stay in the company of thieves,

dacoits, prostitutes etc. They are usually loiterers, or

those who stay away from home for long periods without

parental consent.

c. Difference of characteristics: A juvenile’s delinquency

lacks in utility; sometimes juvenile delinquents are not

even aware of the objectives of their own actions. The

behaviour is usually for manifestation or expression of

emotion or humour. Another marked difference between

juvenile crimes and that of hardened criminals is that

juvenile crimes are not pre-meditated or organized.

This paper aims to extensively analyze the causative factors

of juvenile delinquency through case studies and draw out a

generic trend, if any such trend exists, in the same through

case study method.

There are a multitude of factors outlined by psychologists

through research as causes for juvenile delinquency. According

to behavioural geneticist Dr. David Lykken, delinquents are

made, and not born. This is in contrast to wide opinion that

there is, in most cases, a genetic disposition towards

psychopathy or delinquency. It is widely agreed upon, however,

that delinquency is a bio-psycho-socio-economic phenomenon.

a. Social Causes: family, school, area of residence, cinema,

company, recreation, social conditions (war etc.),

political inclination.

b. Psychological Causes: personality defects, emotional

stability, Mental deficiencies

c. Biological Causes: these are physical and developmental

challenges faced by the subject. Physical Defects, for

example, lead to the frustration of acceptance needs (due

to social shunning) and also that of achievement needs

(the need to be competent, if not excel, in physical

feats preferred by peers). This often leads to assertion

of these needs in the form of crime.

d. Economic Causes: it is quite well known that crime and

poverty go hand in hand. People from lower economic

strata usually engage in theft, burglary etc. The

frustration caused by poverty manifests in the form of

violence, usually leading to crime.

AIM:

1. To analyse the causes of juvenile delinquency through

case studies.

2. To infer from case studies a trend, if any such trend

exists, in the causative factors of juvenile delinquency.

3. To generally discover whether delinquents are born with

criminal dispositions, or whether they develop criminal

tendencies with exposure to the causative factors (which

will be unearthed as mentioned in point 1. above).

The following delinquent case studies have been taken by Mr.

Michael C. Williams Sr. with Dr. John D. Starkey in

capacity. These cases were presented expressly to enable

research on juvenile delinquency.

CASE-1:

The subject is a Caucasian male adolescent. He was then

charged for parole violation, and had a history of burglary

and car theft.

His home life wasn’t very stable, or happy. He got along

with his mother, but resented her sending him away for

misbehaviour. He had never known his biological father, and

disliked his step-father deeply.

He was also kicked out of high-school, in spite of having

liked school when he was younger. However, he seems to have

had a stable employment track. The subject admitted to drug

usage while with friends, and denied being in any gangs.

He states that the institution he was currently in requires

a lot of changes- from better recreational activities and

equipment to more personal space. He also says that the

first time he was committed, it was wrongfully so. He

admitted to having committed a crime, but stated that the

kind of institution he was in did not befit the crime. A

notable fact here is that he owned up to his guilt, and took

responsibility for his actions. These point towards a

healthy conscientiousness.

All in all, he seemed to have been pushed toward crime by

his unstable family situation and the kind of company he was

keeping. The lack of an education that could get him a job

offering a good pay-grade, and stable employment was also

lacking.

In the subject’s case, we see healthy, normal cognition, and

the will to change, and work out ways to make the change.

His brain also forms impressions normally, and processes all

information normally. Hence, there are no neural causes to

his delinquency.

CASE 2-

Subject 2 is a Caucasian male adolescent who was charger for

having fake ID (Altered drivers licence). His previous

offences include burglary and possession.

His home life with his parents was not a good one. He was an

eighth grade drop-out and earned most money by selling drugs.

The subject said that when he was not in prison he would stay

with his lady and one more couple and they would party all day

and used to remain high. He also says that as he has dealt

with drugs he has tried some of everything. The subject says

that he has never been engaged in any gang activity.

When asked about Illinois Youth Centre, the subject said that

he was wrongly locked up the very first time and that he

should be released. He said that the youth centres stink and

that the institution should get read of the detail hall and

should right jobs for everybody.

He says that he doesn’t think that it would be the last time

that he is locked because he thinks that he is trouble prone

and if he wants to make it his last time he will have to leave

his friends so that he doesn’t get locked.

So in this case we see that if the subject had healthy

relation with his parents and had he studied he would have not

engaged in such activities.

CASE 3-

Subject 3 is a black male adolescent charged for strong-arm

robbery. He had been caught earlier many times for the same.

The first time he was caught was when he was 10. He was also

caught with his brother for car theft.

The subject’s relation with his mother was good as he was the

youngest one but he did not know his father because he left

them when the subject was too young. He found school dull and

boring but worked in NYC with a janitor. His major earning was

from shooting craps and stick ups. He says that he used to

party a lot but was not into drugs. He used to drink and he

belonged to four gangs.

He admits that he was wrongly committed at any time-during his

stay at the Illinois Youth Centres. When asked about how the

institutions were what he said was is “For the institutions

that I have been in, I like the group home the best until they

started messing over me. St. Charles is alright, Joliet is a

little better and DuPage is still better.” The subject has

tried to run from these institutions thrice as he thought they

were messing over him and that he has no problem with the

workers there. To get rid of getting locked up again and again

he said that he would go back to trade school and gets a full

time job.

CASE 4-

The culprit is here is a black male adolescent who was locked

up for purse snatching. The subject has earlier been caught

for stealing a gun.

The subject has not really described his relation with his

mother but says that his mom was a cool one and that he had a

step-father. He did not like his step father much and mostly

used to stay with his real father most of the times with whom

he got along.

About the schooling he said that his school was messed up and

hat he was put into special educational classroom for speech

which he did not like and as a result he hit the teacher with

a pop bottle. He did not work anywhere and got money from his

mother.

He use to party a lot and used to smoke reefer. The subject

said that he belonged to one gang. The subject said that he

should have been sent to camp and not the youth centres. About

running away from these centres he said that “I ran once from

Du Page and once from Hanna City. I ran from DuPage because

they would not give me a Christmas furlough. When I was at

Hanna City I took my furlough because they said that I was

pressuring other boys and*I did not deserve one.”

To not get locked up again he said that he would really try

that it would be the last time of him in jail and that he

would quit ripping off and stop gang-banging and get himself a

job.

Lack of education and being a part of gangs got the subject

into trouble is what we see. He himself said that he would try

not to get locked up again by leaving the gang.

CASE 5-

Subject no. 5 is a Black adolescent male who was then charged

with armed robbery. His previous offences include assault and

armed robbery.

We see that the subject’s home life was not very happy. His

mother died when he was four years of age, and he had never

known his father. Having been raised by an uncle and aunt, who

were raising six other children at the same time, the subject

was influenced by an environment wherein he had to fight for

everything. His home environment was highly competitive.

The subject is a fourth-grade drop out. He quit school because

he did not like being in special-education classes. After

quitting school, feeling that he was wrongly put into the

wrong class, he also studied under a tutor for a while, then

just quit school altogether.

He had worked for three months each in two places.

The subject indulged in hard drugs and headed a gang.

He admits to having committed his crimes, and indicates at an

intense dislike for the institution he was penalised in.

Despite this, he has never tried to run. This indicates a

laissez-faire attitude, and the lack of a drive. This lack of

motivation, almost close to helplessness is reflected in the

fact that he believes that he is just going to get locked up

again.

Subject no. 5 was pushed into crime because of family defects

and “othering” at school which socially isolated him, leading

to resentment.

CASE 6-

Subject no. 6 is a Caucasian male adolescent who was then

charged with drugs and burglary. He had been previously

charged with burglary and probation violation for drugs,

overdose, breaking and entering and multiple such parole

violations.

His parents are separated, and he says he gets along with his

mom better than he does with his dad, but that above

everything, he is still his father. He is an eighth grade

drop-out who had always gotten into trouble at school.

The subject was a drug abuser and did not belong to any gangs.

He expresses contempt at the competence of the institution he

was penalised in, and stated that people come out better

crooks than they were going in.

He states expressly that he will not alter his criminal

lifestyle, but that he will just try to not get caught. One

reason for his defiance and rejection of rehabilitation

services may be because of his dislike for the institution.

He expresses the need for a stable job to keep him out of

jail.

We can say that drug abuse and addiction was the major causal

factor that led to Subject no. 6’s delinquency.

CASE 7-

Subject no. 7 is a Caucasian adolescent male who was then

charged with armed robbery. He had prior charges of burglary,

parole violation and armed robbery.

The subject’s home life was stable; however his mother had

died when he was seven years of age. He, however, got along

with his father. He had received an on-and-off education, and

had been placed in special sections. He had always gotten into

trouble at school.

He also admits to drug abuse.

Upon being asked whether this would be his last time in an

institution, he replies in the affirmative.

Subject no. 7, was, on the whole, more positive than the

previous subjects.

We can say that his sporadic education was a major cause for

his delinquency.

The following short cases/narratives are taken from the

article State and Child justice by Yogesh Snehi. All names

have been changed.

CASE 8-

Kailash is a twelve year old living in slum quarters. He was

charged with vehicular theft. His home life wasn’t very

stable. His father had dies when he was eight years old, and

his mother worked all day as she was the sole bread-earner of

the family.

In Kailash’s case, we can say that he was pushed towards

delinquency by poverty and neglect.

CASE 9 –

Monu is sixteen years of age and has been accused of raping a

three year old girl. He had migrated from Nepal with his uncle

in search of work. He has only studies till class five, and

prior to his arrest, worked fourteen hours a day in a hotel

kitchen.

The reason for Monu’s delinquency seems to be a sense of

helplessness and the feeling of a lack of control caused by

his migration to a new country without his parents.

Frustration or stress caused by long working hours could also

have been a major causal factor for his delinquency.

CASE 10-

Sonu, a thirteen year old, has been charged with stealing

money. He had migrated from Malda. His father left his mother

when he was nine years old, and had married another woman. His

home life, hence, was not stable. He didn’t have much of a

social base. He had attended school only till class one, and

had since been committing petty theft in the company of an

elder boy.

The reason for Sonu’s delinquency hence seems to be his

company and the lack of education.

CASE 11-

Mahesh, a sixteen year old, has been accused of stealing. He

migrated from Darjeeling, and is the only child of his

parents. He dropped out of school after class five. When he

was arrested, the parents were reluctant to see him. In the

few months that he has been under judicial care, his parents

had not visited him even once. Hence, Mahesh too, did not have

a social base. This might have pushed him towards delinquency.

CASE 12-

Gaurav, a sixteen year old, and has been charged with theft.

He is homeless. He lost his mother when he was young. He has

two siblings and his father is a rickshaw puller. He is

illiterate as his father has never appreciated the value of

education.

Poverty, family defects and the lack of education pushed

Gaurav towards crime.

The following two cases describe psychopathy, and how

psychopathic tendencies are a result of childhood experiences,

and is an acquired state of mind.

CASE 13-

The case here we talk about is of Denis Nilsen a men whose

misconduct has been cold blooded murder of fifteen people. The

case showed how Denis parents were unhappy in their marriage

and there were only conflicts and after seven long years they

divorced. Denis along with his mother stayed at his mothers’

place with his siblings. His father never provided them with

anyone. Denis was neglected by his over burdened mother.

Dennis never exhibited rage, cruelty to animals or other

children, or any type of aggressiveness typically associated

with conduct-disordered boys who become killers later in life.

In fact, he was horrified by cruelties that he witnessed by

others. Nevertheless, he was drawn to death and he soon became

aroused at the sight of his own body lying still in front of a

mirror.

Gradually Denis fell into a life of casual pick ups. Denis

got into a relation but could not stay in relation for long.

He was broken and that was when the killings began. The first

time was when he went to a bar and this person whom he invited

home. He had a great time with him and the next day when

morning broke and the man had to leave Denil didn’t wanted him

to. So he strangled the man and drowned him. He stayed with

the body in bed and also took bath in the same water where he

killed the man. He did not have any guilt feeling.

This pattern continued until Dennis was caught flushing body

parts down a sewer. Throughout his spree, the only thing that

seemed to disturb him about what he was doing was the problem

of disposal. He didn't mind cutting the bodies up or boiling

the flesh from their heads, or even having them around for a

while. He had killed many men this way. It was trickier to get

rid of them when his apartment got a little too crowded. In

prison, he continued to exhibit no idea about the enormity of

his crimes against others.

Here we can say that Denis was a psychopath as he killed

people- not because of any grudges, but because he wanted to

stay with them longer. The reason could be neglect and lack of

care as he never really had anyone.

CASE 14-

This case describes Gary Gilmore, an American criminal who was

the focus of international limelight for having refused to

appeal his death sentence for double homicide.

The subject dropped out of school at age fourteen.

Gilmore was first arrested at age fifteen for running an

illegal car theft ring. After this he spent nine-and-a-half

years in jail, with a gap of two years. He, however, was a

habitual criminal. He was arrested again for armed robbery and

was sentenced to another nine years.

When Gary Gilmore was sentenced for theft, Frank Gilmore,

Gary’s father, died. Gary went wild, and tore up his cell and

became prone to habitual, extreme violence. He also attempted

suicide. He was, however, not allowed to attend Frank Sr.’s

funeral.

Frank Gilmore had been a criminal, con-man and was a heavy

drinker. He had frequently abused his children and wife. This

was to such an extent that his wife Bessie, too, started

physically abusing her children. She maintained a cold

distance and maintained that there was no need for children

and that they were simply burdens.

Before being sentenced a second time for armed robbery, Gary

said in court that he should be allowed to be sent to a

rehabilitation center. He had spent almost his whole life in

jail at this point. When his request was refused, he became

even more violent. While he was serving out this sentence,

Gary’s brother died. A prison psychiatrist declared that Gary

an “antisocial personality with intermittent psychotic

decompensation”.

We see here that Gary became progressively more violent after

the death of his family members. He had already been engaged

in petty crimes by virtue of the company he kept. The

prolonged abuse and neglect he underwent at home aggravated

his antisocial personality disorder and elevated his criminal

tendencies to homicidal tendencies.

All fourteen cases above are those of juvenile delinquents.

The causal factors as seen in the above cases are summarized

in the following table:

CaseNo.

Nature of Crime

Causes

1 Parole Violation- Burglary

Family Defect- dead father, hostile towards step-father

2 Fake ID, Burglary

Drug Addiction

3 Purse Snatching

Lack of Education

4 Armed Robbery

Lack of Education, Mental Disabilities

5 Armed robbery, Assault

Family Defect- Orphaned, Lack of Education

6 Drug use, Burglary

Drug Addiction

7 Armed robbery

Lack of Education

8 Vehicular Theft

Poverty, Neglect

9 Rape Migration, Long working hours10 Theft Migration, Bad company, Lack of education

11 Theft Migration, Family defect, Lack of Education

12 Theft Poverty, Family Defect, Lack of education

13* Serial Killing

Family defects, Neglect, Dysfunctional relationships, Heightened fear of Abandonment

14* Double Homicide

Family defect, Criminal parent, Neglect, Abuse, Bad company, Death, Prolonged Imprisonment

TABLE 1

*These are exceptional cases as they have been diagnosed as

being psychopathic.

The following table and graph depict the percentage of

cases (considered in this paper) pertaining to each

causal factor.

TABLE 2

GRAPH 1

From the graph above, it is evident that lack of a secure education plays the most major role in causing delinquency among juveniles.

CONCLUSION:

Based upon the case studies analyzed above, we infer that juvenile delinquency is, in 85% of the cases, is caused by extrinsic factors such as family, company, lack of secure education, poverty, poor health etc. A lesser proportion of juvenile crimes are caused due to intrinsic factors such as mental defects and psychological issues.

Cause No. Of Casesfitting cause

Percentage (%)

Family Defect 6 42.85Drug Addiction 2 14.28

Lack of Education

7 50

Poverty 2 14.28Neglect 3 21.42Migration 2 14.28Criminal Company/ Idol/Authority figure

2 14.28

Abuse 1 7.14

0102030405060

No real trend could be observed among the cases we studied, that could explain the reason for delinquent behaviour in sucha way that could provide an effective solution to this growingproblem.

Based upon the research presented in this paper, we conclude that juvenile delinquency is caused due to exposure to the causative factors, and indulgence in activities that promotes the said behaviour. Very few people are born with the disposition for criminal behaviour. Hence delinquents are formed, not born.

REFERNCES:

1. R. Sharma & R. Sharma, Advanced Applied Psychology,

Volume II, 2004

2. McDavid &McCandless, Psychological Theory, Research, and

Juvenile Delinquency in Journal of Criminal Law and

Criminology, 1962

3. “The Childhood Psychopath: Bad Seed or Bad Parents?” by

Katherine Ramsland

4. “State and Child Justice: Stories of Delinquent

Juveniles” by Yogesh Snehi

5. “Juvenile Delinquency: Cause and Effect” by Cynthia H.

Roberts

6. Chapter 2152, Ohio Revised Code

7. http://murderpedia.org/male.G/g1/gilmore-gary-mark.htm

8. “Seven Juvenile Delinquents-Case Studies” by Michael C.

Williams Sr. and John D. Starkey.