“I’m from a small town in Missouri. It all started when I was 13. I started rebelling and I ended up stealing my dad’s car.

I then got put in juvenile. Two weeks after being on probation for that. I stole another car. I was then placed in a treatment Centre which did nothing for me.

After I got released from there I was still on probation. I then started smoking pot, drinking, fighting, and skipping school. So I continuously and gradually got into more trouble.

The inmate only made me mad by yelling in my face and telling me that if I don’t stop, I’d be where there were. The more everyone tried to do, the more I felt I had to rebel… I didn’t understand why I wouldn’t listen to them, because I didn’t want to be locked up, but I didn’t want everyone telling me what to do. I thought I was grown…… But I know now that I wasn’t

My judge gave me too many chances. Finally, the last time I was in there, she placed me in the division of youth service custody. I no longer had a probation officer. I was placed in juvenile detention until an opening at a girl’s facility was open. A total of 7 months was gone”.

 Alisa, a victim of juvenile delinquency shared her horrible experience as a victim of juvenile delinquency.  

What is juvenile Delinquency?

Juvenile delinquency is the habitual committing of offenses by young persons, especially one below the age at which ordinary animal prosecution is possible

Juvenile delinquency is an anti-social behavior of young people that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal actions

Some examples of Juvenile delinquency include;     

• Disorderly conduct
• Minor theft
• Vandalism
• Car theft
• Assault
• Rape
• Murder
• Staying out past curfew
• Underage drinking/purchase of alcohol
•  Under age smoking/purchase of cigarette
• Truancy

Causes or factors contributing to Juvenile delinquency;

• Poor educational standard
• Poor attendance at school
• Violence in the home
• Violence in the social circles
• Peer pressure
• Socio-economic factors
• Lack of moral guidance
• Poverty
• Family conditions

Punishment for Juvenile Delinquency;

• The Juvenile can be sent to secured facilities called “Camps” for months or years as the case may be. This second facility will cause the Juvenile to be out of school for months or years which may affect the victim's career development.
• Incarceration: The victims will be incarcerated for some time either months or years depending on the offense he/she has committed. This incarceration will result in dropping out of school and loss of career.

Probation: The Juvenile is placed under closed supervision following orders from the court. This act will deprive the Juvenile of his/her human right as the case may be.

EFFECT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ON CAREER CHOICE

Juvenile delinquency is a menace that has affected the society, the nation, and the future of the teens, by gradually slowing the rate of their achievements by using the teens as the host. Most times, the host (teens) aren’t aware of this cankerworm because it has slowly eaten them up causing them into underage smoking and drinking, become school dropouts, clubbing, stay out past curfew, rebel against both parents and school authorities, disorderly conduct and so many more…..

Teens who become victims of juvenile delinquency, find it awkward to make the right choice when it comes to choosing the right career. They will be blinded by juvenile pride thinking its maturity. But I can tell you on a better ground that the answer is NO. Teens who are juvenile delinquent, who finds themselves in a social system will be rebelling against the school authority and the administrators which may lead to suspension or expelling. If peradventure they are expelled from the school, there is a possibility that their career is at risk and open to the danger of the known.

Most times school teens who are victims of juvenile delinquency show lower engagement in school activities, non-participation in school events, violent to other teens, and show non-partial attendance to school. When all these factors play on them, they start having low grades in school.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

For Schools;

• Educating the hooligans (street children) on the effect of juvenile delinquency on their careers.
• Community development can encourage a juvenile delinquency-free society.
• Parent-child interaction and training to create awareness of the dangers of juvenile delinquency.
• Bullying prevention programs in areas with high bullying rate cases.

For Students;

Every student desires to be the best when they leave school. Being at your best is a pride to their parent. You can’t be the best if you don’t choose the best career for yourself. But juvenile delinquency will be a great factor that will cause you to fail in your career choice. How can you avoid being a victim of juvenile delinquency if you want to be the best? ;

• Be regular at school and take part in every school activity and event that will contribute to your career growth.
• Should in case of violence in the home, peer pressure, or absence of moral guidance, consult a counselor, teen coach, parental coach, or a teacher.
• Know your friend's cycles. Either from home or at school because this set of people is a great influence on your growth as a student.

When you consider all these measures as suggested, trust me to have the best career choice and get ready to trigger your career growth because the right career choice leads to career growth, which will result in great career achievement.  

I am Assanganeyi Godwin. A Nigerian Teacher with over four years of teaching experience. School head at Golden Schools, Ibaka. I started my teaching career in a village where kids have access to a poor learning environment.  

       I grow up in an environment of juvenile delinquency. I believe as a teacher I don’t only rely on the four walls of a classroom, my motive is to coach kids and teens to see how they can grow above the menace. My core skills are collaboration, creative thinking, problem-solving, and people management.

      As an SDG4 advocate, in 2020 during the resumption of schools from lockdown, I was able to organize mathematics training for entrance pupils in the village to curb the educational loss and prepare them for their high school entrance exams. The training housed over 150 pupils. To me, this was a fulfillment to humanity.