Counselling Delinquents
Counselling Delinquents
INTRODUCTION
Different approaches have been used to define and explain the term „Juvenile
Delinquency‟, like the legal approach, the social work approach, the psychological
approach, and the sociological approach. The social work approach is informal and
therapeutic. The psychological approach is analytical. These two approaches are
primarily concerned with the welfare of the individual delinquent and attribute only
secondary importance to the security of the social group in which he committed his
delinquency.
A) The adjudicated delinquents who have been processed through the courts
B) “In- official delinquents” who are handled officially by the police, courts and
other agencies.
Biogenic view stress faulty bidosy to be the reason for juvenile misconduct.
The psychologist takes a more individualistic, specific view of human behavior
and personal internal factors that contribute to criminality. The sociologists take a
more general view, looking at the external environment in which the individual
lives. The sociologist is concerned with the distribution of crime within the
environment and the factors in the system that affects the crime rates.
CHARACTERISTICS
1. The delinquency rates are many times higher for boys than girls, that is, girls
commit fewer delinquencies than boys.
2. The delinquency rates tend to be highest during early adolescence (12- 16yrs
age group).
3. Juvenile delinquency is more an urban than a rural phenomenon.
4. Children living with parents and guardians are found to be more involved in
the juvenile crimes.
5. Low education background is the prime attribute of delinquency.
6. Poor economic background is another important characteristic of juvenile
delinquency in India.
7. Nine out of 10 juvenile delinquents are first- offenders and only one- tenth are
recidivists or past- offenders.
8. Not many delinquencies are committed in groups.
9. Though some delinquencies are committed in groups yet the number of
juvenile gangs having support of organized adult criminals is not large in our
country.
TYPES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
1. Mental defective
2. Psychotic
3. Neurotic
4. Situational
FACTORS IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
1) Individual factors
2) Situational factors
While, the situational factors may be subdivided into five groups: family,
companions, school environment, movies and work environment.
Juvenile delinquents need parents who are loving, yet hold them responsible
for their actions.
Look closely for signs of substance abuse.
Consider the family
Work closely with the school. Teachers and school counselors may have a
good idea about the child‟s attitude, social group, and behavior problems.
Get the parents to be cooperative and not offer excuses.
If the child has been charged as a juvenile delinquent, help the parents hire an
attorney to represent child in court.
The counselor can liaise with police, probation officers, or juvenile officers
who are involved in the child‟s case.
Listen to the child. Pay attention to what he or she says and how he or she
acts.
Parents need to express their love for the child in words and action.
The parents can be counseled to think about all of their options. May be their
child would make some changes if he or she had stricter rules.
METHODS OF TREATING DELINQUENTS
(1) Psychotherapy
The two basic approaches in dealing with youngsters are the individual and
group methods of treatment. It is generally the individual method which is used by
psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists and social workers, though psychologists
sometimes do use group method as well.
Psychotherapy
Is based on the view that people, unable to fulfil their basic needs, act in an
irresponsible manner. The object of the reality therapy is to help the delinquent person
act in a responsible manner, that is, refrain from antisocial activity. For example, if a
boy does not attend school classes owing to the harshness of the teacher, he is made to
understand that the teacher is not harsh but is interested in helping him shape his
career. This therapy can be given by any one, because it does not emphasize nebulous
psychiatric terms, extensive testing, or time consuming case conferences.
Behavior therapy
Activity therapy
PREVENTIVE PROGRAMMES
1) punitive prevention
3) mechanical prevention.
The first is the threat of punishment based on the idea that punishment will
forestall criminal acts; and second refers to an attempt to eliminate potential causes
before the criminal behavior actually takes place; and third emphasizes placing
obstacle in the way of the potential criminal so that he will find it difficult to commit
an offence.
Do not excuse your childs criminal actions. This is a serious problem and
needs to be treated as such.
Understand that one possible result from court intervention is that your child
can be removed from your home and placed in foster care or a juvenile
facility. Obtain legal assistance to protect your family.
REFERENCES
Rao, S. (1991). Counselling and Guidance. New Delhi: Tata McGraw Hill Education
Private Limited.