Authors: Upasana Saikia
Abstract: Juvenile delinquency continues to represent one of the most pressing challenges facing societies worldwide. It is characterised by deviant and antisocial behaviours ranging from truancy and substance abuse to theft, vandalism, and violent crime. These behaviours pose risks not only to the youth themselves but also to family integrity, community safety, and broader social stability. Juvenile delinquency is an emerging challenge in India, with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recording more than 30,000 cases of juveniles in conflict with the law in 2022. The most common offences include theft, burglary, rioting, and an increasing number of cybercrimes. Such patterns reflect broader socio-economic and cultural shifts, including the weakening of traditional joint family systems, urban migration, parental neglect, and the absence of value-based education. While legal frameworks such as the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, exist, preventive strategies focusing on family and education remain limited. This paper explores the role of family dynamics and family-based education in shaping adolescent behaviour in India, applying theoretical perspectives such as attachment theory, parenting styles theory, social learning theory, strain theory, and social control theory. Drawing upon NCRB data, Indian case studies, and secondary scholarship, the study argues that supportive family environments and moral education reduce delinquency, while family breakdown and neglect increase risks. It concludes by recommending family-centred interventions, educational reforms, and community partnerships as sustainable strategies for preventing juvenile delinquency in India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17063146
