ABSTRACT
The increasing rate of
juvenile delinquency has become a major social problem globally and
locally. Researchers and concerned individuals have traced the
preponderance of juvenile delinquency to the increasing rate of family
instability among other factors. However, concerted inquiries into the
influence of family instability on juvenile delinquency have resulted in
a raging controversy. While some researchers have found a significant
relationship between family instability and juvenile delinquency, others
have suggested otherwise. Against this backdrop, this study set out to
fill this yawning gap in literature and also to examine the relationship
between family instability and juvenile delinquency in Owerri
Municipality. Using the purposive sampling method, 510 senior secondary
school students were selected for this study from 10 comprehensive
secondary schools in Owerri Municipality. The questionnaire and the
interview guide were used for data collection. 3 hypotheses were
formulated to guide this study. The hypotheses were tested with the
chi-square (x2) statistic. The results of the analyses
suggested that children from unstable homes were more likely to engage
in juvenile delinquency than their counterparts from more stable homes;
inadequate parental supervision predicted delinquency while considerable
familial conflicts increased the likelihood of delinquency. This study
recommended among other things that Governments, counselors and
concerned agencies should routinely develop programmes aimed at
sensitizing parents and care-givers on parent roles and obligations.
The
increasing rate of juvenile delinquency has become a major social
problem globally and locally. Researchers and concerned individuals have
traced the preponderance of juvenile delinquency to the increasing rate
of family instability among other factors. However, concerted inquiries
into the influence of family instability on juvenile delinquency have
resulted in a raging controversy. While some researchers have found a
significant relationship between family instability and juvenile
delinquency, others have suggested otherwise. Against this backdrop,
this study set out to fill this yawning gap in literature and also to
examine the relationship between family instability and juvenile
delinquency in Owerri Municipality. Using the purposive sampling method,
510 senior secondary school students were selected for this study from
10 comprehensive secondary schools in Owerri Municipality. The
questionnaire and the interview guide were used for data collection. 3
hypotheses were formulated to guide this study. The hypotheses were
tested with the chi-square (x2) statistic. The results of the
analyses suggested that children from unstable homes were more likely
to engage in juvenile delinquency than their counterparts from more
stable homes; inadequate parental supervision predicted delinquency
while considerable familial conflicts increased the likelihood of
delinquency. This study recommended among other things that Governments,
counselors and concerned agencies should routinely develop programmes
aimed at sensitizing parents and care-givers on parent roles and
obligations.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Juvenile
delinquency is an intractable problem worldwide and has been increasing
phenomenally by as much as 30 percent since the 1990s (World Youth
Report, cited in Sheryln, 2008). Anti-social behaviours of young people
have been posing a lot of problems to the wellbeing of the people in
Nigeria. Citizens, researchers and public officials perceive juvenile
delinquency as a major social contemporary concern in Nigeria. Juvenile
crimes witnessed in Nigeria include: drug abuse, cultism, bullying,
truancy, examination malpractices, prostitution, theft (Ugwuoke, 2010;
Sanni, Udoh, Okediji, Modo & Ezeh, 2010).
Shoemaker
(2010:3), defined juvenile delinquency as “illegal acts, whether
criminal or status offences, which are committed by youth under the age
of 18”. From this definition, it is pertinent to highlight the two types
of delinquent offences associated with young people, herein referred to
as juveniles/children. The first type of offence is a conduct that
would be a criminal law violation for an adult, such as rape, burglary,
robbery, etc. The other type of delinquent offence called ‘status’
offences are delinquent conducts that do not apply to adults, such as
running away from home, truancy, etc (Alemika & Chukwuma, 2001;
Alfrey,2010).
The origin of juvenile delinquency in
Nigeria dates back to the 1920s when youth crimes such as pick pocketing
and prostitution became predominant issues in Nigerian newspapers in
that period. This ugly trend led to the establishment of judicial
administrative processes by the colonial administrators to deal with
juvenile delinquents (Fourchard, 2006).It is appalling that the
worrisome issue of juvenile delinquency still plagues the contemporary
Nigerian society in a serious dimension (Muhammed, Salami , Adekeye,
Ayinla and Adeoye,2009).
However, the problem of
juvenile delinquency is not peculiar to Nigeria. In 2007, the law
enforcement agencies in the United States of America reported 2.18
million arrests of juveniles (Alfry, 2010). Alfry also reported that the
United States Bureau of Justice Statistics found out that 72% of jailed
juveniles came from fragmented families. According to World Youth
Report cited in Sheryln (2008), the rate of criminal activity among
juveniles in groups in the Russian Federation is about three to four
times higher than that of adult offenders. Motivated by the increasing
rate of juvenile delinquency in Britain, Juby and Farrington (2001),
examined juvenile delinquency and family disruption in a longitudinal
survey of South London males from age 8 to 46. The researchers found out
that 29% of the boys from disrupted families were convicted as
juveniles compared with 18% of the boys from stable families. The
researchers concluded that family disruption was one of the contributory
factors to the upsurge of juvenile delinquency in Britain.
In
Kenya, Muola, Ndugu and Ngesa (2009) cited in Kimani (2010) in a study
of the relationship between family functions and juvenile delinquency in
Nakuru municipality in Kenya found out that the incidences of juvenile
delinquency have increased in recent years in Kenya. Juvenile
delinquency was found to be significantly related to family instability
and mode of discipline. The researchers suggested that there was a
relationship between family functions and juvenile delinquency in Kenya.
Fourchard (2006) has also decried the increasing trend of juvenile
delinquency in South Africa, attributing the upsurge to familial factors
amongst contributory variables.
In view of the
foregoing issues and trends globally and locally, many researchers agree
that the foundation of juvenile delinquency is rooted in the kind of
home the child is brought up (Okorodudu, 2010; Igbo, 2007). Muhammed et
al (2009) have observed that family instability is on the increase in
Nigeria and that the increasing crime trends among the youths may be
attributed to this. Based on the foregoing, this study aims at examining
the relationship between family instability and juvenile delinquency in
Owerri municipality.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Juvenile
delinquency in Nigeria is a major social problem which affects the
whole society and constitutes a serious impediment to development
(Muhammed et al 2009). In Owerri municipality today, crime is common
among the young people, many of who are caught in one criminal act or
the other such as examination malpractice, armed robbery, assault, rape,
house breaking, forgery, truancy e.t.c. There is hardly a day without a
case of juvenile crimes being announced (Nwankwo, Nwoke, Chukwuocha,
Iwuagwu, Obanny, Okereke and Nwoga, 2010).
Cultism
and cult related activities perpetrated by youths have been a source of
fear and concern to the inhabitants of Owerri Municipality. These cult-
related activities have wrecked untold havoc in Owerri municipality
including the loss of lives and limbs and the creation of fear and
insecurity. This ugly trend necessitated the call by the rector of
Imo
state Polytechnic, Professor Anderson Amadioha, for a promulgation of a
law against the scourge of cultism in academic institutions in Imo
state (Soriwei, 2008).
Drug abuse among juveniles is
also another cankerworm that is eating deep into the fabrics of Owerri
municipal .In corroborating this fact, the Imo state commander of
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) lamented that the youths
were the most involved in illicit drug usage and dealing (Nkwopara,
2011).The consequences of this malady and other juvenile crimes such as;
examination malpractice, alcoholism, forgery, rape, e.t.c in Owerri
municipality include; social violence among youths, armed robbery,
mental disorders, lack of respect for elders and other numerous social
ills. In the light of the nauseating problems of juvenile delinquency in
Nigeria and Owerri Municipality, scholars and concerned citizens have
attributed the menace to various factors such as; poverty, peer
pressure, family instability, drug abuse and so on(Nwankwo et al 2010).
While recognizing these other causes, this study seeks to focus on
family instability and its contribution to juvenile delinquency because
“the family has a crucial role to play in the development of a
conforming or delinquent personality (Igbo, 2007:89)”.
Inadequate
supervision arising from family instability seems to be associated with
juvenile delinquency (Alfrey, 2010). Alfrey further explained that
those children in single-parent families tend to receive lower levels of
supervision. According to him, this inadequate parental supervision has
a tendency to increase the likelihood of juvenile delinquency. Dogget
(2004), has it that when there is one parent living in the home as
opposed to two, it is more difficult to supervise children all the time
.According to Dogget, every day activities like errands and work must be
completed by the single parent, which leaves no parent in the home.
Because of this, children in single-parent homes tend to receive lower
levels of supervision (Sanni et al, 2010). Lack of parental monitoring
contributes not only directly to children’s anti-social behaviours, but
also indirectly as it contributes to exposing them to associate with
deviant peers, which is predictive of higher levels of deviant acts
(Okorodudu, 2010). From observation, it seems that parents and care
givers are not doing much in the supervision of their children in Owerri
municipal because of their numerous economic and social engagements.
This scenario tends to be giving impetus to juvenile delinquency in
Owerri Municipality.
Children from broken homes are
more likely to run away from their family than children who come from
more stable families (Uwaoma & Udeagha, 2007).Uwaoma and Udeagha
further explained that a broken home has an imbalance and as a result is
detrimental to a child’s socialization and personality adjustment. The
resultant effect is that a child may be more vulnerable to negative peer
pressure and may ultimately commit delinquent acts not committed by
children from stable families where there is a balanced structure of two
parents who act as good role models in the child’s acquiring proper
roles (Odebunmi, 2007).
Children growing up in
unstable families are at a greater risk of experiencing a variety of
behavioural and educational problems, including; smoking, drug abuse,
vandalism, violence and criminal acts than children from stable families
(Sheryln, 2008). According to Sheryln, changes in the family can affect
the levels of self-control in children. The transitions in the family
structure also lead to changes in the organization, monitoring and
disciplining of the children. If the changes are widespread, the
resulting changes in the adolescents’ levels of self-control will likely
lead to anti-social behaviours (Mullens, 2004).
Single-parent
families are often financially vulnerable as compared to two-parent
families. This unfortunate economic circumstance can draw these families
to disorganized neighbourhoods where crime and delinquency are rampant
(Alfrey, 2010). The implication according to Alfrey is that the children
may be exposed to learning delinquent behaviours and they may also be
enticed into joining delinquent gangs. It is the opinion of the
researcher that financial vulnerability may also be a source of strain
to children in single-parent families. Hence, they may not have some of
their needs met by their single parent. The effect is that children in
such a situation may be pushed to engage in theft, extortion and other
delinquent actions to make ends meet.
The menace of
juvenile delinquency in Owerri municipality is evident in juvenile crime
statistics in Owerri municipality collated by the Police headquarters,
Owerri from 2009 to 2011.Based on the data, it shows that juveniles
between the ages of 14 to 17 years committed the following offences:
Murder, 1 case, theft, 61 cases, assault, 55 cases, and breach of public
peace, 6 cases.
Nwankwo et al (2010) have also
attributed the rise of anti-social behaviours among young people in
Owerri municipality to family instability among other factors. They
noted that children from unstable families have multiple behavioural
problems which impel them to engage in delinquent behaviours. This,
according to them is because the warmth, direction, love and protection
which the parents would have provided for them are lost and then sought
in anti-social behaviours such as drug abuse.
However,
there seems to be a controversy on the relationship between family
instability and juvenile delinquency. While Alemika and Chukwuma’s
(2001) study, among other studies found no relationship between broken
homes and juvenile delinquency, Kimani’s (2010) study found a positive
relationship between broken homes and juvenile delinquency. As a result,
this study aims at bridging the gap in studies on juvenile delinquency
and also to investigate the relationship between family instability and
juvenile delinquency in Owerri municipality.
1.3 Research Questions
This study is aimed at finding answers to the following questions:
1. What is the extent of family instability in Owerri municipality?
2. What is the relationship between broken homes and juvenile delinquency in Owerri
municipality?
3. How does conflict in the family affect juvenile delinquency in Owerri municipality?
4. How does inadequate parental supervision affect juvenile delinquency in Owerri
Municipal?
5. What are the consequences of family instability on the society?
6. What are the solutions to family instability as it affects juvenile delinquency?
1.4 Objectives of the Study
The
general objective of this study is to investigate the relationship
between family instability and juvenile delinquency in Owerri
municipality.
The specific objectives of this study include:
1. To find out the extent of family instability in Owerri municipality.
2. To ascertain the relationship between broken homes and juvenile delinquency in Owerri municipality.
3. To critically evaluate the influence of family conflicts on juvenile delinquency in Owerri municipality.
4. To appraise the influence of inadequate parental supervision on juvenile delinquency?
5.
To find out the consequences of family instability on the society.
6. To proffer solutions to the problems of family instability and juvenile delinquency in Owerri Municipality.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This
study is very significant because if the causes of juvenile delinquency
are not known, then, finding a solution to the problem may become an
effort in futility. Therefore, this study will be a resource material on
how family instability and other family-related variables influence
juvenile delinquency. This study will ultimately contribute to closing
the gap that exists in studies on juvenile delinquency. In addition,
this study will increase the knowledge base in criminology. It will also
be useful to other researchers who may need secondary data for other
research work in related subject matter.
Practically,
the findings of this study will be very useful to guidance counselors
and those responsible for the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents in
that it will serve as a working tool in dealing with the problems of
juveniles .Parents and care-givers will also find this study very useful
as it will raise their consciousness towards monitoring and supervising
their children and wards. The findings of this study will also be
useful to the government in the sense that it will assist the government
in formulating policies that will consolidate the family.
Operational Definition of Concepts
Broken home:
This refers to a family arrangement in which children reside with a
parent as a result of divorce, death or separation or any type of family
other than one in which both biological parents are present.
Child: A child in this study is used interchangeably with the term, juvenile to refer to a young person under the age of 18 years.
Comprehensive Secondary School: In this study, this refers to a secondary school that is attended by both males and females.
Conflict: This refers to disagreements/ quarrels in the family which could result in fights, violence, e.t.c
Delinquency: This refers to less serious crimes or offences committed by juveniles (Igbo, 2007).
Desertion: This
refers to the act of abandoning one’s spouse and children or either of
them without the intent to return and without support.
Divorce: This refers to the dissolution of a properly constituted marriage (Njoku & Uwaoma, 2001).
Family: In this study, family refers to a social unit made up of father, mother and the child (ren).
Family instability:
This refers to any family arrangement characterized by frequent
conflict, inadequate parental control, weak internal linkages and a
couple’s propensity to dissolve an existing marriage, even though,
dissolution may not take place. Hence, a
family may be experiencing or showing signs of instability and still remain intact (two- parent).
Family Cohesion: This refers to the level of attachment and emotional bonding between family members (Sanni et al, 2010).
Family stability: This refers to a two-parent, violence free, and openly communicating family.
Juvenile: A juvenile in this study refers to a young person under the age of 18 years. Juvenile delinquency: This
refers to the antisocial or criminal acts committed by a young person
under the age of 18 years. Examples include truancy, theft, cultism,
e.t.c. Juvenile delinquent: This refers to a juvenile who has acted antisocially or has broken the law.
Inadequate parental supervision:
In this study, this refers to negligence on the part of the
parent(s)/guardian(s) to closely monitor their child(ren)’s activities.
Separation: This refers to a form of marital disruption in which a man and a woman no longer live under the same roof as husband and wife.
Truancy:
This refers to the act of skipping school/class without excuse.