Band 5+: In many countries crime rates among teenagers are higher than among other age groups. What are the causes of this problem and what can be done to solve it ?

Increased amount of crime among young individuals are more common in some countries than in other age groups. Unemployment and lack of parental guidance are the main causes, however, it can be tackled by offering training programmes and introducing harsher punishment for crime.

The main reason for early crime in teenagers is due to the low employment rates. In other words, unemployment can lead to financial pressure on them and lack of structure in their lives, as a result, they turn to crime to pay bills and meet family responsibilities. Moreover, peer pressure and lack of attention from their parents can be a common reason to consider. That is to say, due to the lack of support and parental guidance, many young people tend to join to the local gangs and be a misbehaviour person in the future. In South Africa, for instance, a number of teenagers feel a lack of sense of belonging and being loved or accepted from their family or friends, as a result, they try to find a new home and love from strangers.

Nevertheless, certain actions could be taken to tackle the problem above. To address the former problems of unemployment among teenagers, the government bodies should offer training programmes. Put simply, they are supposed to encourage young individuals with lessons or entertaining games about jobs which may help them to stimulate employment, bring hope and give structure to their lives. In addition, harsher punishment can deter teenagers from crime and officials of the country should introduce laws about crime. North Korea, for example, is considered as a country with high rate of crime punishment. Because, there is fixed punishments such as burning alive or stoning for individuals who turn to crime, especially in young age which helps to reduce the frequency of crime.

In conclusion, although low percentage of employment among young people and lack of parental support and guidance may be an unavoidable reasons, they can be averted by proper planning. The government plays a crucial role in preventing the frequency of crime in young age.