The Relationship Between Family Background Indicators and the Types of Crimes Predominantly Committed by Incarcerated Juveniles in Selected Correctional Centers in Kogi State, Nigeria

This research investigates the relationship between family background indicators and the types of crimes predominantly committed by incarcerated juveniles in selected correctional centers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Implications for social rehabilitation of inmates. The study was guided by three objectives. Juvenile structured questionnaire (JSQ) was used to collect data from three hundred and seventy-two (372) respondents derived from staff from the rehabilitation center and incarcerated juvenile. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for incarcerated juvenile, and random sampling for the staff. Descriptive Percentages and mean were used to analyze the Research Questions while inferential statistics of Pearson Correlation was used to analyze the Hypotheses. Findings on family background indicators revealed that 42.6% of the parents had secondary education, 51.8% earned between ¦ 1,000 to ¦ 50, 000 per month while 59.8% have a household size of one to ten. On type of crime mostly committed, 79.3% of juveniles were involved in stealing, 62.1% into drug abuse and 39.1% fighting. Test of hypothesis between family background indicators and type of crime mostly committed revealed family type (-0.175), home type (-0.541), age (0.467), education (-0.400) occupation (-0.164), economic status (-0.489) and family size (1.000). In conclusion, family background indicators have strong correlation with the type of crime mostly committed by incarcerated juveniles in Kogi state. These correlations have serious implications on the social rehabilitation program for juvenile correctional centers. The recommends that, there is need for government and nongovernmental organizations to revisit and develop a social rehabilitation program.