Youth crime in Barbados: the way forward from a social justice perspective

Abstract

Many researchers use a combination of methods to obtain the views of youths, but the results of these efforts are hardly reflected in the policies and programmes developed to address the causes of youth crime. This research study sought to bridge this gap and aimed to: determine the multidimensional causes of, and accompanying solutions to, youth crime in Barbados from the perspective of youths who have been involved in crime, identify the extent to which youths have participatory parity in Barbados, inform the way forward for addressing youth crime in Barbados from a social justice perspective, and empower youths through a participatory approach to be agents of social change in youth crime. The study was grounded in Nancy Fraser’s theory of social justice, and adopted a participatory approach rooted in standpoint epistemology and principles espoused by Paulo Freire. To ensure depth and breadth of findings, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to collect data. The researcher conducted a series of life history interviews with youths who were previously involved in crime/delinquency, and used the results from the analysis of these interviews to inform the other data collection instruments, ensuring that the lived experiences of youths remained central to the data collection process.

Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with policymakers and government officials, and surveys were conducted with youths who were involved in crime/delinquency. The research findings revealed that youth crime is not the result of one factor, but of several interrelated and interdependent factors. The most identified contributing factors to youth crime were anger issues, lack of money, absence of a father, hanging out on the blocks, and disrespect from persons in society.

The findings also revealed that, while some youths are consulted regarding policies and programmes, such consultation appears to hardly extend to at-risk youths. As such, efforts to address youth crime are undermined by a culture and an environment that lacks the systems and processes to foster participatory parity among all youths, and are also impeded by a weak legislative and judiciary environment surrounding youth and youth crime.

Additionally, the findings revealed the need for programmes that provide stronger structures and support to families, especially those of incarcerated youths since it is this environment that they return to after incarceration. Therefore, this study revealed the importance of going beyond an individual multidisciplinary approach and towards an overall systemic multidisciplinary approach that must address all aspects of the system: not just the programmes and interventions designed to prevent and reduce youth crime, but the legislative and regulatory environment that is so often a bottleneck to justice. Future research should seek to engage even more youths to determine if the views expressed in this study are representative of all at-risk and incarcerated youth.