Educating the young delinquent

Abstract

This study focuses on young criminals in Malta mainly from collaboration with the Social Work Centre at Sta. Venera and the Probation Office in Valletta. The first part of the study provides the different explanations of delinquent behaviour. This study also deals with the different policies, in educating the young delinquents, adopted abroad mainly in the USA and those adopted in Malta. It is illustrated, after a careful analysis of the statistics of the cases scrutinised by the Maltese Juvenile Court, that the juvenile crime in Malta has risen considerably. A breakdown of the interviews with authorities forming the Juvenile Court (primarily magistrate and social workers) and the probation office, establishes guidelines about what is to be done with children who have committed a crime under the age of 16. The final part of this dissertation proposes means to prevent deviance of the juvenile and various ways to improve treatment of the young delinquent, immediately after committing the crime (before he/she is arraigned in court) and also after being given the sentence.