Assessing Juvenile Delinquency in Trinidad and Tobago Using Subcultural Theories
Assessing Juvenile Delinquency in Trinidad and Tobago using Subcultural Theories
Diane S Lewis
University of the West Indies
Abstract Devin Mills, a student I privately tutored, was gunned down while walking in Deigo Martin in January 2011, newspaper reports portrayed him as a typical lower-class male who got caught up in the wrong things and believed his murder was gang-related. I did not understand why everyone viewed him as such because to me, Devin was a sincere and compassionate young man who was trying to make the best out of his circumstances in life. This unfortunate event inspired my interest in juvenile delinquency and how it relates to gangs. As a result, this paper will assess juvenile delinquency using subcultural theories with specific reference made to Trinidad and Tobago, (i.e. statistics, examples and references). The terms ‘gang’ and ‘subculture’ are used interchangeably in this essay since both hold the same meaning with respect to the subcultural theories.
Assessing Juvenile Delinquency Using Subcultural Theories
In a number of Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, the proportion of violent crimes committed by juveniles has been increasing. This problem is also reflected in the growing concern with school violence (Jules , 2006). In an article found in the Newsday, Minister of National Security, Brig John Sandy, stated that from two thousand and nine to two thousand and ten there has been an escalation of youth crime, with police figures showing that persons under the age of eighteen had committed nine hundred and thirty three serious crimes (Douglas , 2011). Juvenile delinquency refers to the participation in illegal behaviour by a minor who falls under the statutory age limit (Siegel & Welsh, 2011). The Children Amendment Act (2000) in Trinidad and Tobago defines a child or minor as anyone under the age of eighteen. It also refers to a “young person” or a “youth” as a child over the age of fourteen but under the age of
Diane S Lewis
University of the West Indies
Abstract Devin Mills, a student I privately tutored, was gunned down while walking in Deigo Martin in January 2011, newspaper reports portrayed him as a typical lower-class male who got caught up in the wrong things and believed his murder was gang-related. I did not understand why everyone viewed him as such because to me, Devin was a sincere and compassionate young man who was trying to make the best out of his circumstances in life. This unfortunate event inspired my interest in juvenile delinquency and how it relates to gangs. As a result, this paper will assess juvenile delinquency using subcultural theories with specific reference made to Trinidad and Tobago, (i.e. statistics, examples and references). The terms ‘gang’ and ‘subculture’ are used interchangeably in this essay since both hold the same meaning with respect to the subcultural theories.
Assessing Juvenile Delinquency Using Subcultural Theories
In a number of Caribbean countries including Trinidad and Tobago, the proportion of violent crimes committed by juveniles has been increasing. This problem is also reflected in the growing concern with school violence (Jules , 2006). In an article found in the Newsday, Minister of National Security, Brig John Sandy, stated that from two thousand and nine to two thousand and ten there has been an escalation of youth crime, with police figures showing that persons under the age of eighteen had committed nine hundred and thirty three serious crimes (Douglas , 2011). Juvenile delinquency refers to the participation in illegal behaviour by a minor who falls under the statutory age limit (Siegel & Welsh, 2011). The Children Amendment Act (2000) in Trinidad and Tobago defines a child or minor as anyone under the age of eighteen. It also refers to a “young person” or a “youth” as a child over the age of fourteen but under the age of
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