Date of Submission

5-16-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Advisor

Kevin Barnes-Ceeney, Ph.D.

Keywords

Caribbean, Juvenile, Delinquency, Crime, youth

LCSH

Caribbean Area, Juvenile delinquents, Juvenile delinquency

Abstract

There is a gap in the research on juvenile delinquency within the Caribbean context. As countries such as St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis have growing delinquency and crime rates, there is a need to bridge this gap in the literature. This research sought to examine the main causes of juvenile delinquency within St. Lucia, Guyana, St. Kitts, and Nevis, as described by juvenile justice stakeholders, such as probation officers, prosecutors, and judges, within their respective countries. Through the use of grounded theory, the data were coded and analyzed using a constant comparison method. From these data, six themes emerged in St. Lucia, seven in St. Kitts and Nevis, and six in Guyana. In St. Lucia, these themes were family, education, different world now, meso/macro/neighborhood factors, gangs, and peers. In St. Kitts and Nevis, these themes were parenting, adolescence, peers, education, substance abuse, changing times, and economic structure. In Guyana, these themes were family, environment, peers, media, substance abuse/use, and education. By understanding what juvenile justice stakeholders believe to be the main causes of juvenile delinquency within their respective communities, culturally competent diversion programs can be developed to reduce future delinquency.

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