Dickson Igwe. Photo: Provided

"If the Virgin Islands does not get a grip on juvenile delinquency swiftly, resources that should be spent providing quality education to Virgin Islanders, Belongers, and Residents, will instead have to be diverted to fighting deviancy and delinquency in the classroom.’’

The Educator further stated that at her facility, delinquency was affecting order at the school. It was also affecting the access to a good education for those kids keen on learning. This was not surprising. This Researcher’s findings on juvenile delinquency carried out at the Hamilton Lavity Stoutt Community College showed clearly that indiscipline and deviancy in schools was a factor in declining educational standards. 

On the brighter side, and the good news is that juvenile delinquency in the Virgin Islands is one evil that the community through government can effectively intervene in. Religious organizations can, and should, be doing a lot more in the fight against juvenile delinquency. Assisting with homework and in the tutoring of slow learners at after school programs is the type of corporate parenting the church should adopt. They are not doing so.

The church must impact the BVI much more than it is doing presently. It is not enough to sit within the 4 walls in sweet isolation. As a consequence, it is left to government and various nonprofit organizations to take up this crucial work.
 
Both Juvenile criminality and juvenile delinquency can be controlled and managed effectively. In fact, juvenile delinquency can be defeated. 

The answer is using the TOOL OF EDUCATION as CATALYST for changing delinquent behaviours in children and youth. Yes, the research this college researcher conducted, with a long report at the end, showed that education, both academic and vocational, was the key to changing poor behaviours in juveniles. Sporting, leisure, and similar type programmes, came in second.

The research showed that education was empowering. Empowerment through education built self esteem in the young. When a child is schooled in math, English, reading and writing, among other subjects, and sees improvement in their academic skills, this is a powerful motivator. It is probably the same with vocational education.

A student that excels in technical subjects such as motor maintenance and refrigeration is more preoccupied with his or her learning than wanting to be idle and deviant. The student motivated by academic responsibility and educational success builds a strong self esteem. A child or teenager with good self esteem will avoid the abyss of deviancy.

Sending juvenile delinquents to prison is not the answer. There are those that disagree with that assertion. They state that prison should be the last resort for the juvenile delinquent. That may be an acceptable viewpoint. It is just not acceptable to this researcher.

Placing juveniles in close proximity with adult offenders actually makes these juveniles worse in his opinion. There are negatives placing juvenile delinquents in an adult prison. The organic culture in prison exposes the juvenile to greater delinquency.

The answer - coming from months of painstaking study - was placing juvenile delinquents in a special learning environment where they were forced to FOCUS ON SCHOOLWORK. This could be a boarding type facility where juveniles were placed, for months, even years, by the requisite authority. A strategy for fighting deviancy could further include a day school or special unit that juvenile delinquents could attend, and where the desired interventions could be accessed.

In other words CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION: education in a controlled and disciplined setting. A Setting where the requisite interventions required for changing poor behaviour, and to establish effective learning is readily available.

This is the best approach to fighting juvenile delinquency. 

Dickson Igwe is a current affairs columnist. He is a scholar of strategy and leadership. Connect with Dickson Igwe on FACEBOOK and TWITTER. Email Dickson Igwe at dicksonresearch@gmail.com