Questions on teens who turn to crime. -ST
Fri, Jan 15, 2010
The Straits Times
By Andrew Duffey
Who are the teens turning to crime?
Many of them come from broken homes or families where the parents do not spend much time with them. Teens who do not get love and acceptance from their parents may get it from gangs instead - which leads them into crime. Also, many of these youths are poor; for them, it is the attraction of easy money that draws them to commit crimes.
Why do they turn to crime?
For fun and adventure, for acceptance in a gang, or just for cash. Teens can be lured into gangs by promises of perks and easy money. Free booze, cigarettes and women, as well as well-paid loan-shark running contracts ($80 for scrawling "O$P$", $150 for splashing paint, $200 for harassing one household) are part of the attraction.
What crimes are they committing?
The good news is that there seems to be fewer teen criminals. But their crimes are nastier.
Last February, a 16-year-old girl had the book thrown at her for plotting the rape of a 13-year-old who had bad-mouthed her. Last October, a 14-year-old schoolboy allegedly caused a massive fire at the Kampong Siglap mosque in Marine Parade. And four times as many teen loan-shark runners were arrested in the first six months of last year compared to the same period in 2008.
Where does teen crime come from?
At-risk youths, former youth offenders, counsellors and youth experts all point to the same causes: bad parenting; negative peer group influences; and the universal teenage desire to be accepted in a group or, in these cases, a gang.
When do they start a life of crime?
They can start at any time, but it seems a recession makes it worse, if the number of parents seeking a Beyond Parental Control order against their children is anything to go by. When Singapore was in recession in 2001, the number of applications more than doubled from 244 to 598. Last year, 744 applications were filed, compared to 720 in 2008 and 673 in 2007.
How are they helped?
Over the past 12 years, many programmes have been started to drag youths back from the brink and to counsel at-risk youths and former offenders. Mr Alex Lim, who was a gang leader at the age of 15, works in YouthWorks, a support group for discharged offenders.
"I regret ruining young lives when I recruited peers into my gang," he said.
"Now I hope to influence young lives again - this time for the better."
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
Fri, Jan 15, 2010
The Straits Times
By Andrew Duffey
Who are the teens turning to crime?
Many of them come from broken homes or families where the parents do not spend much time with them. Teens who do not get love and acceptance from their parents may get it from gangs instead - which leads them into crime. Also, many of these youths are poor; for them, it is the attraction of easy money that draws them to commit crimes.
Why do they turn to crime?
For fun and adventure, for acceptance in a gang, or just for cash. Teens can be lured into gangs by promises of perks and easy money. Free booze, cigarettes and women, as well as well-paid loan-shark running contracts ($80 for scrawling "O$P$", $150 for splashing paint, $200 for harassing one household) are part of the attraction.
What crimes are they committing?
The good news is that there seems to be fewer teen criminals. But their crimes are nastier.
Last February, a 16-year-old girl had the book thrown at her for plotting the rape of a 13-year-old who had bad-mouthed her. Last October, a 14-year-old schoolboy allegedly caused a massive fire at the Kampong Siglap mosque in Marine Parade. And four times as many teen loan-shark runners were arrested in the first six months of last year compared to the same period in 2008.
Where does teen crime come from?
At-risk youths, former youth offenders, counsellors and youth experts all point to the same causes: bad parenting; negative peer group influences; and the universal teenage desire to be accepted in a group or, in these cases, a gang.
When do they start a life of crime?
They can start at any time, but it seems a recession makes it worse, if the number of parents seeking a Beyond Parental Control order against their children is anything to go by. When Singapore was in recession in 2001, the number of applications more than doubled from 244 to 598. Last year, 744 applications were filed, compared to 720 in 2008 and 673 in 2007.
How are they helped?
Over the past 12 years, many programmes have been started to drag youths back from the brink and to counsel at-risk youths and former offenders. Mr Alex Lim, who was a gang leader at the age of 15, works in YouthWorks, a support group for discharged offenders.
"I regret ruining young lives when I recruited peers into my gang," he said.
"Now I hope to influence young lives again - this time for the better."
This article was first published in The Straits Times.
