Abstract:
Juvenile delinquency and crimes are serious problems all over the world. They are steadily increasing as years pass by and creates many setbacks in development processes mostly in third world countries like Tanzania whose mechanisms to deal with the situation are weak. The main objective of this study was to examine the dynamics of juvenile delinquency and juvenile crimes in Arusha City, Tanzania. Specifically, the study explored the age in which juveniles start to commit crimes, types and nature of delinquents and crimes committed by juvenile, causes for their involvement in delinquents’ behaviour and crimes. Lastly, the study ought to suggest integrated management approach that can sustainably address juvenile delinquents and crimes. Structured questionnaire and checklists were survey tools used to collect data from a sample of 50 juveniles and 18 community members. Focus group discussions and observation was employed to get information from key informants. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer programme was used to analyze quantitative data whereas content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The results showed that juvenile involve in delinquent behaviour as young as 12 years old mostly after completion of primary school education, and that the main types of crime were theft, breaking and stealing, and robbery. Poverty was cited as the main factor for their involvement contributing to 50% of delinquency. Peer influence, drug abuse and alcoholism were also pronounced influences to juvenile delinquencies and crimes. Conclusively, juvenile delinquency and crimes are on the rise day after day especially in the cities like Arusha. The fact that crimes and insecurities are one of the major hindrance of development, it in tell the importance of all the possible measures to be taken to curb the situation in hand. The study suggests the design of more policies and strategies to improve youth life especially those who do not get the chance for joining secondary education and the ones who are done with ordinary level secondary school. Efforts that encourage strong family ties were also found pertinent to dealing with juvenile delinquencies and crimes in burgeoning cities of developing counties like Arusha, Tanzania. It is important to ensure that youth become an integral part of the development process as they contribute to more than 50% of the entire Tanzania population.
