Delroy Chuck ACROSS THE world, especially in the big cities, the main criminal culprits are young men between the ages of 15 to 27. Young men from this age cohort, usually unemployed, unmarried, and from poor socio-economic background, create havoc and mayhem in virtually every country. If one has any doubt, visit the police stations, the courts or the prison reception desks, and it is likely you will see mainly young men in the jails, the docks and the prisons. What lessons can we learn and how can we engage our young men to rescue them from criminal influences and ultimately from a life of crime?
Interestingly, if women, older men, and educated or skilled young men can keep away and out of criminal activity then why can't these wretched, uneducated, un-tamed young men? In truth, at this age, young men are driven by powerful physiological urges that challenge their sense of worth and purpose - they become restless, adventurous, combative, competitive, and willing to take daring risks to satisfy their innate needs.
They are at the pinnacle of their physical well-being and eager to find outlets for their boundless energy. Whereas women and older men are security conscious, deliberately seeking settled lives of stability and certainty, that is not the case with young men who have to compete to show their self worth, to gain respect and to achieve status and power within their social sphere.
In most countries, it is through education, skills, jobs and contacts that young people open gateways and access opportunities to meet their physiological needs and, if enough worthy and legitimate occupations are available, there is every likelihood that most can keep away from criminal activity.
SUPPPORT
Still, unless young people have the support of their parents, the schools, the churches, the workplace, the community and other supporting social institutions, they could fall by the wayside and adopt criminal and wayward lives.
Whereas for the fortunate few, especially those from the upper and middle socio-economic ladder, their future is assured through legitimate activities and the fulsome support of their families, what happens to the horde of young men who struggle in poor and deprived surroundings? While society cannot be blamed for every criminal, the failure of social and economic institutions contributes significantly to the creation of criminals.
The emergence of violent gangs within our inner cities is a feature of virtually every metropolitan city and a strong testament to the failure of modern society to provide legitimate outlets, enough opportunities and rewarding choices for our young people. Whereas we mistakenly believe rampaging and violent gangs are products of partisan politics - they are not - they emerge from the poverty, hopelessness, social disorganisation and lack of cohesion in our inner cities.
The gangs are the main comfort zones for marginalised, disadvantaged and depraved young men. They represent a challenge to the social order and a powerful indication that our young men are at risk and in need of care and attention.
What then should be our response to these violent, criminal gangs? The classical theory of crime - believed by many - teaches that criminal activity is simply a question of choice and criminals freely and deliberately chose a criminal path. For the classical theorists, there is only one solution - punishment. When it doesn't work, apply even tougher measures and stronger punishment. Hence, misguidedly, we believe tough policing and harsh punishment must work, as they send the only signals that criminals need - that crime does not pay.
PRIMORDIAL, URGE FOR REVENGE
Well, centuries of brutal, barbaric and deadly measures have not succeeded in eliminating or reducing crime, even though they may satisfy our strong, primordial, urge for revenge. It is time we think beyond punishment and un-derstand that we can do much more to rescue our young men instead of throwing them in jails and prisons.
Travel around the inner cities and talk to our young men. They are crying out for help, for hope and a way to live a better life.
Just watch what happens when a construction site opens, thousands of young men descend in search of jobs and desperately hope for a few days', perhaps a few weeks', work to put food on their mother's or girlfriend's tables. Yet, most go away, disillusioned, angry, bitter, wondering why society has dealt them such an unfair hand.
These are the candidates who are ripe for the criminal gangs. They have sought to play by the rules, to find jobs and to support their families but everywhere they turn they come up blank. Is it any wonder that many, if not most, find the criminal path an attractive alternative?
I think society owes these young men a plausible explanation why they cannot share in the spoils and benefits that so many others can enjoy but of which they are deprived. When the jobs, opportunities and choices are not immediately available, we should at least engage our young people, even the wrongdoers, in alternative activities such as sports, skills training and community activities to offer hope, understanding, integration and the important message that they are not abandoned and forgotten.
In part, if we want to dismantle the criminal gangs and control the crime wave, then we need to engage and neutralise them on their own turf. At the same time, we must back up our efforts with good policing, an efficient justice system and a strong economy, and to that discussion, I will continue, next week.
Delroy Chuck is an attorney-at-law and Opposition Member of Parliament. He can be contacted by e-mail at delchuck@hotmail.com.
