YOUTH CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES

The rate of vices perpetrated in our society come from the youths mostly. Well, I do not think this is far-fetched because the youths are the more prevalent part of the population in any country. We have the Hive Learners edition here:

Week 09 - Edition 01 Topic
”YOUTH CRIME”
A lot of youths these days find themselves committing crimes for various reasons known to them. From peer pressure to just the basic need to survive... What are your thoughts on this? Why do you think crime among the youths has been on the increase? And what ways do you think they can be stopped?

However, there is a range of things that are responsible for the crime committed by this age grade. They include but are not limited to:

• Improper Parental Care
• Peer influence
• Greed
• Partial Judiciary System

Improper Parental Care

We all know how the way a child is raised up is crucial in shaping the most part of the child’s life. Here, it is in two folds to be honest. The first is from the parents themselves. There are parents who raised their children without giving them the needed attention or being too strict even when with them. At times, most children learn their very first bad behavior, for example, smoking and drinking, from their parents. They revealed these odd things to them at a young age and you know kids will always want to try things out. Also, we know that we – children have our lives to leave but this does not mean that we should not be reprimanded for naughty behaviour. For example, even when a child comes home late some parents would not even question his/her whereabouts.

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On the other hand, basically, some children just develop a strong coconut head. No matter how the parents try to mould good morals into them, they just would not heed. That is why some elders in my society do say that even when you pray for a child, add that it should be an obedient one.

Peer Influence

No doubt the circle a person belongs to or spends time with affects him no matter how hard you try. This stems from the parents’ side too. We know that one cannot always be around the parents. This is why it is of essence to be careful of the friends we keep. And also, the parents should know the kind of friends their ward keep.

Greed

Everyone understands that there are people who have been the one sponsoring their well-being from time immemorial. But the lack of contentment and greed largely constitutes why youths go into crimes such as armed robbery to satisfy the monster greed in them. Not being contented with what they had t hand to suit them but wanted more than they could get through scrupulous means. As said earlier about peer influence, when the pressure of not fitting into a certain circle creeps in and the members of that circle are ostentatiously shoving their things to his face, they’d have no choice but to fall in.

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Partial Judicial System

Normally, a true judicial system is supposed to be impartial but it is now a norm for justice to no more prevail. When criminals who are truly guilty, in a twinkle of an eye, are seen roaming freely again, even those who may have been scared of perpetrating similar crimes would be encouraged to go into it seeing that there was no one to persecute them. At times, people now say rich people or their relatives do not go to prison – they are above the law. And the law is meant and only for the poor.

And what ways do you think they can be stopped?

Basically, and first, parental care needs to be worked on by every parent and those who want to venture into marriage. There should be the availability of marriage counsellors who would be there to give advice on how to go about things as a family. This will enable them, to understand the style of proper parenting and be able to set good examples for their children.

Self–esteem

From the home to institutions of learning, if they are in on boosting self-esteem, I do not think anyone would be intimidated by the flashy lifestyles of unscrupulous beings. Here, contentment also works! Having the mindset of the fact that what you have is enough for you and to grow at your own pace will eliminate any form of greed that may be developing in the minds of such youth.

Impartial Judicial system

I believe when the rule of law shows forth its true colour in society. At least, it will enable the people to have the mindset that if you do anything against the law and you are caught, you’ll definitely face the wrath of the law and serve as an example to others. This will make people less likely to indulge in criminal activities.

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Skill acquisition programme

As they say, an idle hand is the devil’s workshop. For unemployed youths, the government or private individuals should set up skill acquisition training to at least enable them to have something meaningful to do with their lives.

These and many more unmentioned are the ways by which youth crimes can be handled.