A SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF YOUTH INVOLMENT IN VIOLENT CRIMES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The curvilinear relationship between age and crime has been one of the most consistent findings in criminological literature to the extent that some authors called it extra ordinary, 'one of the brute facts of criminology.' Having been groomed in society that could not provide adequate necessities of life like good education, employment opportunities, young adults oftentimes find themselves at the wrong sides of the law as perpetrators and sometimes victims. Independent studies on violent crimes showed that inequality, low education, broken homes, unemployment, age [e.g. youth], marital status [e.g. unmarried], residential areas [e.g. slums] and indecent housing units are factors for violent crime. Many policies and programs designed to mitigate factors for crime above, are yet to bring the desired result as there appears to be rise in crime rate and convicts. Against this background, a study was conducted on the convicted prisoners in four prisons in Niger State with the aim of interrogating socio- economic factors with a view to ascertain any bearing with involvement in violent crimes. While using social disorganization theory as a guide, some 291 convicted prisoners were sampled using multi- stage sampling technique, from four prisons and the result indicates unemployment and low income could not produce significant relationship with violent crimes unless redolent with other factors such as disorganized neighbourhood and associating criminal peers. It became clear that what pushes youths into violent crimes remain multi-caustic. Youth Empowerment program tailored toward better education and employment as measures to reduce their involvement in violent crimes in Nigeria. and formation neighbourhood associations to provide social capital for the youths are suggested.