Peer Group Socialisation as a Determinant of Juvenile Delinquency: Comparative Patterns Across POCSO and Non-POCSO Offences and Pathways Towards ‘Habilitation’

Abstract

Growing urban Commissionerate systems have moral, law and order issues due to the emerging picture of greater juvenile involvement in all forms of crime, including horrendous sexual offenses against other children (Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act/POCSO).
The study evaluates the socio-demographic-psychological characteristics, from an empirical primary survey of incarcerated juveniles of Jaipur Commissionerate of the capital city of Rajasthan, a state in India. Mixed method approach of Qualitative (Age brackets, Motive behind committing the crime, Crime Type, Recidivism & Socio-Economic Background by Ration Card holdings) cum Quantitative (statistical Pearson Chi-Square Test of Independence association between Criminal Motive & Type of Crime- POCSO & Non-POCSO) research approach is employed to assess juvenile delinquency. The Chi-square test of goodness of fit of independence so applied proves that juvenile offense type (POCSO against Non-POCSO) is associated with the motive behind the crime (peer-group influence against all others, like, previous animosity, sudden provocation, in state of intoxication, pre-planned & economic). The p-value score was way below the conventional threshold of α = 0.05, indicating association between motive with offense type, which clears the air that this occurred by chance, while the Cramér's V Strength of Association test shows moderate strength of association. The authors also take the liberty to amalgamate all the suggestions (self & other scholars) for the amelioration& mitigation of juvenile delinquency ‘habilitation’.