Minor involvement in murders on the rise

Statistics released by Juvenile Justice Unit for the first six months of this year shows a rise in number of minors involved in murder cases.

Only two minors were involved in murder cases during 2015, but the figure has doubled during the first six months of 2016 to 7 minors.

Six of the minors had no record of criminal activity with the JJU.

JJU noted in their report that the minor involvement in murders had risen because increase in involvement of minors in gang-related criminal activities.

Most of the juvenile criminals are involved in substance abuse, robberies and street fights, while female juveniles among them are most frequently arrested for substance abuse, robberies, street fights and sex offenses.

167 minors have been reported to JJU from January 1 to June 30 – 47 of them repeat offenders.

The number of males involved in crimes is higher than females – though both are involved in criminal activities.

JJU noted in their report that most of the juvenile criminals come from families where both parents are still married and living together, it cited lack of parental control over children during their teens as the reason why they choose a life of crime.

It cited lack of concern when children come home late, and lack of disciplining when they do something wrong as a reason why minors commit crimes.

85 percent of the minors were arrested from Male’, although the majority of them originally belong to another island outside the capital.