The importance of a stable home and family environment in the prevention of youth offending in South Africa
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Date
Authors
Lutya, T.M. (Thozama Mandisa)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lifescience Global
Abstract
This paper aims to present a strategy to prevent youth offending in South Africa. The strategy is motivated by research
findings obtained from the study titled “Home and family circumstances of young offenders: A social worker’s view” in
2007. The findings of this study revealed that socio-economic factors; inept parenting and socialisation practices;
exposure to inter-parental violence; sibling criminality; negative parent-child relationship; parental response to deviant
behaviour of the child as well as the lack of parental interest in the rehabilitation programmes offered to their offending
children increases the likelihood of a child partaking in criminal activities. This paper argues that in order to prevent youth
offending South Africa should consider the importance of a stable home and family environment in the prevention of
youth offending. Firstly, family planning is important. Secondly, parental involvement in a child’s activities is vital to
ensure proper supervision and monitoring. Thirdly, in the absence of adequate parenting skills, efficacy and
management parenting programmes could help parents learn a conforming manner of rearing their children. Lastly, once
they have been caught committing a crime parents ought to take centre stage to ensure that the child’s behavioural
transformation takes place.
Description
Keywords
Family stability, Youth offenders, Parenting
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Lutya, TM 2012, 'The importance of a stable home and family environment in the prevention of youth offending in South Africa', International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, vol. 1, pp. 86-92.