Juvenile delinquency recidivism in Arua District, Uganda

Abstract

Recidivism among juveniles is increasing in Arua contributing to the general recidivism of adults of the country. Using a qualitative exploratory research design, the purpose of this study was to explore and understand the challenge of juvenile delinquency recidivism, explore the predisposing factors and the implication on the rehabilitation of the juvenile offenders in Arua Municipality, Arua district (Uganda). Data obtained from in-depth interviews with 27 key informants including juvenile offenders and staff from police, probation, prison, court, and remand home and three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 8 participants each. Key informants were purposively sampled while FGD participants were randomly sampled. Data transcripts were analyzed and coded using thematic analysis. Juvenile recidivism among juvenile first offenders was high in all detention facilities of mostly petty offences. The attributed predisposing factors to juvenile recidivism included challenges at household/family, domestic violence, parenting styles, peer influence factor, high poverty levels, alcoholism and drug use, neighborhood influences, uncensored media, school factor, lack of specialized care and services and weak community support structure. Support services in the detention facilities of counselling and spiritual guidance, engagement of parents or guardians in the institutions, networking with other stakeholders were inadequate in curbing juvenile recidivism. Establishment of community child protection committees, promotion of operationalized remand home with schools and vocational trainings in agriculture, sensitization of parents and guardians to support children to go to school, engaging several partners to provide support to juveniles, increase of professional personnel to handle juveniles in facilities and the promotion of community sensitizations are good strategies to reduce on juvenile recidivism. The study recommends detailed (disaggregated by age, risk level, and other key variables) and regular (at least annually) data collection and reporting on juvenile offenders and recidivists to the state and local policy makers.