Juvenile delinquency and future citizens

We believe that the embryonic stage of human life comes within the domain of human rights of living, growing and development. A child needs proper care for safe up-bringing and development of the inherent potentialities.

In this regard, the supreme role of parents in respect of love and affection is supplemented by the school teacher. The home, its quality and composition, environment, economic and social condition etc. largely determine the needed development aspects of the child and shape character traits and value senses.

The huge lots of the homeless, landless and incomeless families of Bangladesh are acutely appalled by poverty, illiteracy and their concomitants which hamper sound growth and development of the children of such families. For them, there is no pre-school opportunity, school-oriented modern facility, proper food, proper nutrition and medicare, sanitary environment and habitat etc. etc. the stress and strain of inadequacies of life largely sensitise the children into a feel of social insignificance which promotes wayward attitude. They do not have urge to go to school and to mix up with the children of socially and economically unencumbered families. If some of them, however, go to primary school under the lure of benefit provided by the government, they do not like to stay long in school to complete the course of education. They play truant and constitute the band of drop-outs, and then go their way outside the control of the family, or join the parents in their desperate pursuit of life for existence. At such a stage, many children leave company of parents and incline toward petty thefts, picking pocket, etc. When caught and sent to prison where adults are crowded without any segregation, they come in contact with the criminal and delinquent adults and learn details of the art of crime commission. On return from prison, these children indulge in recidivity or enter upon new domains of crimes. This contagion theory of crime multiplies the growth of the underworld.

We may turn to the sight of mothers in prison with innocent children. Such a child remains in prison environs as long as the mother passes her days over there. The prison administration in Bangladesh is horrid in respect of accommodation and facilities of diverting criminal attitude of the inmates. The countryside lack of attraction, employment opportunity and, on the contrary, the flash of development and attractions in towns, particularly in Dhaka city have created a drive of the rural poor families towards town for a possible prospect of economic foothold. Even begging in towns and Dhaka is much more attractive than in the village.

A recent press report shows the existence of thousands of street children of the age 3-17 in Dhaka city. We find these homeless, propertyless boys and girls in metropolitan mazars, traffic-jam points, graveyards, railway stations, court premises either singly or with mother or father or with both invoking alms and help. Some of these wretched humans crowd the market places and offer service to carry the load of things purchased by the affluent. These destitutes always search for shelter, food and livelihood. The boys amongst them generally range in age from 6 to about 16 or 17, and the girls from 6 to 11 or 12, barring those on mothers' lap.

It is interesting to notice juvenile boys and girls in the metropolis running in the traffic-jam points from vehicle to vehicle with foreign and native sensational books and magazines, miscellaneous stationery articles, kerchief pieces made of remnants of garment factories, bottles of mineral water etc. requesting purchase of their merchandise. After such missions carried up to midnight, these boys and girls retire to footpaths, slums and miscellaneous spots for sleep and rest. The olders among them often assemble with phensidyl. Many of them earn approximately Tk. 300-500 per day. They spend the money in ways they like -- usually in misc. food, clothing and smoking etc. and share remnants with parents (father and mother or either as the situation stands out).

Perchance, if we ask anyone to agree to work as domestic help, hurriedly comes out the word 'No'. They do not like long hours of domestic help, occasional torture for slight mistake, and other abuses. They feel they are enslaved in domestic service whatever may be the economic benefits offered including prospect of education at the instance of benevolent employers. Some girls of the street fall into the clutch of traffickers who usually bring them into immoral life at home or abroad.

According to surveys, many of the street boys and girls run away from parents after the death of father or mother or both and because of torture and harsh treatment in the family. In course of time, many of them particularly the boys grow into thieves, extortionists, kidnappers, terrorists and murderers etc. and some of the girls mature up into immoral activities.

According to psychological and psychiatric criminologists, the juveniles we have categorised hereinabove develop mental conflicts or non-satisfaction of fundamental needs of life, and a desperate way of thinking and acting, and seek relief in criminal activities. When the early formative life faces deprivations the propensity toward anti-social activity increases sharply. We have noticed broken homes present considerable risk of delinquency for children. In case of divorce of mother which is very whimsical in our society of the poor, the adverse effect on children is pronounced. Statistics confirm high rate of broken homes in the life-history of many criminals.

Criminals are not born but made. Given the opportunity, in most cases they may be restored to their original frame of mind and attitude and harmony with society. But if in a society a huge lot of people suffers from distortion caused by broken homes, neglect,

bad company, addiction to drugs and drinks, domestic familiarity with vice and violence and other crimo-genic factors it becomes difficult to develop a basic tendency to do the right, to eschew wrong, to slough off the criminal mantle and motivation by releasing stress, freezing and fostering tranquillity.

The Interpol has provided the following guidelines to police in dealing with juvenile delinquents:

1) Interrogators should work in pairs. The offence should not be discussed too bluntly. Minimum possible notes should be taken to avoid unfavourable impression.

2) Don't be obstinate in questioning if a child refuses to answer.

3) The child should be questioned in isolation and away from parents, teachers, companions and others so that the child may not feel embarrassed.

4) Separate juveniles from adults during arrest and detention.

5) Be kind and firm, never be vulgar and scornful. Don't handcuff. Never treat juveniles as an outcaste or criminal.

6) Be honest with juveniles. Always tell them the whole truth. Don't make promise which you will not be able to fulfil.

7) A firm warning may give better result than legal proceedings.

8) Don't summon and take children to police station for questioning. They should be contacted discreetly at home. They should not be searched brutally.

It has been suggested by Interpol that police should train the potential offender in leading a life of self-discipline and industry. Club and hostel may be started for juvenile delinquents so that they may play under supervision of a police pensioner. At such a home and school, the delinquent can learn the rules of life and sound habits.

We may address ourselves to steps taken by some leading countries in dealing with juvenile delinquents.

In the United Kingdom, police has discretion to discharge a juvenile delinquent with a warning or to send him up to court, unless the offence is serious and the child is a previous offender. Under the Criminal Justice Act of 1948, juveniles (12-21) are bound to attend countryside welfare centers set up in police stations or police premises for 24 hours (not more than 3 hours a day) in lieu of suffering sentences. These centres are run by police instructors who organise course of physical training, handicrafts and lecture on good citizenship.

In France, Juvenile Bureau undertakes investigations into family conditions for court and public assistance boards.

In Germany, the Women's Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Police Office deal with juvenile delinquency. Besides, there are Young People's Advisors attached to police stations and CID maintains specialised teams for prevention.

In the United States, Juvenile Bureau, Youth Bureau etc. exist as independent branch of the municipal police force and they run youth clubs or holiday camps.

In India, Bombay established Juvenile Aid Police Unit in 1952 to deal with pre-delinquents, delinquents, socially handicapped juveniles and victimised children. Under the control of this unit, Police Boys' Club operates in low-income-group labour areas. The Juvenile Aid Bureau of Kolkata works under the Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Detective Department. Juvenile Aid Bureaus and Police Boys' Club have been functioning in many other states of India.

In Bangladesh, recently the editors of leading papers underscored the need for extensive coverage of news on children in the print and electronic media for establishing the rights of children. The UNICEF has shown interest in letting children speak. Bangladesh has reformatory schools, and probation units to deal with juvenile convicts. The Retired Police Officers' Association in collaboration with World Vision has been doing good work to reform juveniles into sound thinking and acting.

The brief discussion on juvenile delinquency landed us in the realm of several child-related matters which could not be incorporated in this brief write-up. Just the issues are mentioned which are broadly as follows: The Children's Act of 1974, definition of child in various statutes relating to penal offence, custodial security and right, marriage, contract, deserted and illegitimate child, child labour, child rights, child abuse, trafficking in children. Elaborate research at the instance of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Universities on these subjects would bring to focus the rhythms of life of our future citizens.

Abdul Khaleque is a former IG, Police and Secretary.