More than 900 juvenile offenders went on to commit serious crimes as adults over the past 21 years, a criminal psychologist has found, prompting an urgent call for state intervention to prevent today’s young offenders from following the same path.
Kirk Alleyne told Barbados TODAY that without immediate intervention to modify the behaviours of deviant youths charged with serious crimes, there is a strong possibility they will commit heinous offences in the future.
Alleyne was responding to recent findings by criminologist Kim Ramsay from the Attorney General’s Office, who earlier this week revealed that the age of offenders is “significantly decreasing”. Ramsay highlighted that children aged 11 to 15 are now being charged with serious offences such as murder and robbery, with 16-year-olds also among those committing murder.
She noted that young people are increasingly victims of violent crimes as well.
A criminologist for five years with 20 years of law enforcement experience, Alleyne described the findings as troubling, reflecting a 20-year trend in which juvenile delinquency has significantly influenced the island’s criminal landscape.
A study by Alleyne published last year, found that between 2002 and June 2022, 1 874 minors—mostly males—were charged with offences. Of these juveniles, 904 (810 males and 94 females) were later charged as adults for major crimes, including serious bodily harm, endangering life, aggravated burglary, and robbery.
Earlier this month, Cheryl Willoughby, director of the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, reported that the average age of murder suspects over the past six months was 17 to 18.
Alleyne said these findings confirm a troubling pattern, and unless immediate measures are taken to address the rising wave of youth-driven violence, the cycle will continue.
“The recent research aligns closely with my findings on juvenile crime and its long-term impact on our country. Young men in particular are at serious risk of becoming perpetrators or victims of violent crime,” he said.
“I have been monitoring the situation closely, and I maintain that it is at a crisis level. Some of the brazen crimes committed this year highlight the degree of lawlessness and lack of regard for law and order among these perpetrators.”
Alleyne emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach, incorporating short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. He called on law enforcement and the public to work together to tackle escalating gun crime.
“In the short term, it is the responsibility of every citizen to support government initiatives and law enforcement to curb crime and violence. Medium- and long-term goals will take time to yield results,” he said.
The criminologist also stressed the importance of ensuring young men leave school with qualifications, noting that males without proper education often resort to crime to resolve conflicts.
“The problem remains that many individuals are not equipped to handle conflict. My 21-year study shows that assault was one of the most common crimes committed by juveniles, demonstrating a tendency to use violence to resolve disputes. This pattern continues into adulthood, with more violent offences being committed. There is a clear link between a lack of educational attainment and violence. Among those charged with murder after turning 16, over 90 per cent had no educational qualifications,” he explained.
Alleyne’s 2023 research further revealed that the average age of murderers as adults was 20, and they predominantly came from 14 of the island’s 21 public secondary schools.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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