Perspectives on crime theories and juvenile’s recidivism based on socio -economic variables in south africa

Abstract

Violence and crime in South Africa is a contemporary challenge. The South African crime statistics reveals that offending behaviour seem mostly prevalent among adolescent and young adults of 18 and 25 years of age. Thus, the majority of offenders are wedged between the sixth and seventh stages of development which led to incarceration. Nowadays, with more concerns is that young offenders are re-incarcerated after their first offence. A valid concern is that a pattern of re-offending or recidivism is very complicated because little is known about the circumstances associated with youth recidivism and both the re-offender and correctional institutions are not able to deal with since they have no control over the various socioeconomic circumstances which may affect the young offender outside the prison. Since little is known, the occurrence of re-offending implies the fact that juvenile offender soften have to go back to the same community and family circumstances where he/she was before his/her incarceration. Particularly, the family and community background. These include unstable family life, community conditions not conducive to their adjustment, and lack of external support to assist young offender with their adjustment outside prison. Based on the assumption that little is known about factors associated with juveniles’ recidivism, this study discusses various criminal theories with socioeconomic implications in order to explain criminal behaviour and juvenile recidivism. The study provides a science-based (theory) explanation to juvenile recidivism and fills the knowledge gap on circumstance associated with youth recidivism in South Africa. It emphasises the need to integratesocio-economic pillars in the crime prevention action plan. Socio-economic variables include issues related to job creation and opportunities as well as improvement of incomes, education and skills attainment. A phenomenological, qualitative research design was used and regarded as a suitable method to establish youths experience and build an understanding of the situation surrounding recidivism in South Africa.