Factors Affecting Juvenile Delinquency in Punjab, Pakistan: A Case Study Conducted at Juvenile Prisons in Punjab Province

Abstract

The present study was to explore the factors affecting the juvenile delinquency in Punjab, Pakistan. The major objectives of the study were to find out the demographic and socioeconomic information of the respondents as well as to investigate the possible factors affecting juvenile delinquency. The study was qualitative in nature and the case study method was use for data collection from the prisons of Punjab, particularly located in the jails of three districts i.e. Lahore, Rawalpindi, & Sargodha (District Jail Lahore, Central Jail Rawalpindi & District Jail Sargodha). The researcher conducted 6 in depth interviews of the respondents by using the convenient sampling technique. The results show that there are many socioeconomic as well as psychological factors affecting juvenile delinquency in Punjab, Pakistan. Mostly respondents claimed that family environment i.e. restrictive behavior, negligence, improper supervision, and delinquent behavior of their parents leads to juvenile delinquency. Some respondents reported that the motivation by peers and friends for indulgence in deviancy and peer rejection also becomes the pull or push factors toward delinquency. Moreover, the poverty, illiteracy, poor educational performance at school and lack of moral education may turn the personalities toward law violators. The study also concluded that deteriorate neighborhood, direct exposure to violence and fighting movies on media also considered as the risk factors leads toward delinquency among juveniles.

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