The Role of Bystanders and Enablers in Juvenile Delinquency

Sammanfattning: There has been serious concerns about the pace at which juvenile criminality isincreasing globally(National Academies Press, 2001).Young people are increasinglybecoming susceptible to a wide variety of misdemeanors; from substance abuse and addictionto murder (ibid). Studies have empirically described many triggers as the root cause ofjuvenile delinquency (Archer, 2000).Some criminologists have attributed these types ofmisdemeanors to the environments to which these adolescents are/have been subjected to(Wikstrom, 2004). On this basis, this research aims to assess the liability, if any, ofbystanders/observers and enablers/facilitators of juvenile delinquency. The study employed aqualitative approach in evaluating the role of bystanders and enablers in juveniledelinquency. The outcome revealed that the majority of bystanders and enablers are equallyas guilty as the delinquent youth. Three theories were used to rationalize these findings; theanomie-strain theory, situational action theory and self control theory ( Chainey & Ratcliffe,2005). As a result, the study recommends adequate parental guidance, in-person supervision,parental awareness, governmental inclusion, the provision of social infrastructures as well asequal opportunities, among others.