BASSETERRE St. Kitts, July 29th 2011 - A very interesting and timely topic indeed! Crime and violence has been described as contagious, deadly plague. It affects not only those involved, but also close family and friends. Our youths have so much potential, but alas, these dreams and aspirations are often time snuffed out because of their involvement in crime and violence. Many die before age 20. A study of the death rate between the ages of 18-25 would make for interesting reading, like a cowboy western fiction, perhaps? Here are some ways, that violence and crime affects the family
The youths involved often alienate their family and even their responsibilities at home like chores, sibling care or even in some cases parental care. Parents and grandparents are left to do tiresome house work because the youths are on the streets, as if, it is where they reside and work.
The youths cause grief, shame, heart-ache and embarrassment to parents during their life and even after they are killed. Fear grips the homes of those youths involved in crime, because their enemies often go after the remainder of the family. Revenge can surface between a family of a youth who committed a crime and one who was a victim of the crime. In some cases the younger siblings follow their deadly footsteps, creating a vicious cycle of criminal activities in the home and society
Some cases have been discovered where even parents are involved in violence and train up their children to follow their pathway. The cliché "monkey see monkey do' is evident here. Children might say “I want to be a bad man like my daddy, or I want to be in a gang like my uncle" There is no good example to follow!
We are living in a society where the saying "the neighborhood raises a child” has become almost obsolete. No one wants to be acquainted with troubled and criminally involved youths and their families. Family and community ties can be said be loose, not united. So neighbors have very little to do with that home or family
Unwanted family expenses arise especially where one has to be bailed from prison or pay money for murder/ criminal expenses and funeral expenses. Crime and violence unfortunately leaves a community with a higher proportion of poor, single parent and non-traditional families.
The overall unemployment rate rises because these youths often do not work or cannot find work because of their bad reputations. They make no form of monetary contribution to the household.
Illiteracy is at times inevitable and thus the cycle continues where they will try other means of making quick money thereby resorting to a bad lifestyle of crime and violence
A mother or father might be incarcerated and these youths engage in criminal activities because there is no role model or good parenting present to guide and to care for them. In this case they fall by the wayside wasting their lives away. Becoming a burden to the rest of their family and society.
Crime and violence might even lead to the incarceration of the youths themselves, reducing the number of eligible domestic's partners. I wonder if I would be able to find a husband? Nuclear families would decrease.
The incarceration of offenders who are also parents or providers of the family may also weaken the family cohesion and reduce family financial resources.
Individuals from unstable families or single-parent families tend to have higher rates of involvement in violence, crime and delinquency. Its reality, but very troubling. Youth crime and violence definitely affects the family and then over time deteriorate the society we live in. Family life is non-existent particularly because of the secrecy at home, when they are not on the streets doing crime they often hide out in their rooms. There is little or no family time or bonding.
Thank you!
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