Abstract:
Juvenile delinquency significantly contributes for existence of anti-social behavior which
causes political, social and economic instability of the country. In the region as whole
juvenile delinquency behavior was disturbing peace and security. The study was aimed at
assessing juvenile delinquency and social behavior the case of secondary school students
located in Gambella town administration, South Western Ethiopia. Qualitative and
quantitative approach was employed to conduct this study. Gambella Secondary School and
Newland secondary school students were selected randomly from total secondary schools
found in Gambella town. Using simple random sampling technique and purposive selection,
358 respondents were selected from 5292 of total respondents. Data was collected from
primary source. Descriptive statistics and observational analysis was used to analyze data
collected from respondents. The study finding shows that types of juvenile delinquency were
gang involvement (hanging activities), exam malpractice (cheating) alcohol involvement,
beatings, drug use behavior, robbery and ethnic conflict involvement. Causes of juvenile
delinquency were also identified and includes Lack of communication with their families (
lack of advice from parents) peers influence, lack of social training, lack of income, broken
family (divorce of mother and father), ethnic conflict, political instability and lack of literacy
from parents. Concerning to corrective measures taken against juvenile delinquency
behavior condemned the juveniles, parent child interaction training, using juvenile justice
system, education and preparing recreation centers for juveniles, preparing awareness on
effects of delinquency, identifying its causes and correcting it and training juveniles’ family
on how to manage their children. Juvenile delinquency was potential problem in the study
area because majority of villages and the towns were controlled by delinquent juveniles. This
is because there was weak legal implementation to control delinquent boys and girls.
Generally the study result concludes that there are so many numbers of causes of juvenile
delinquency behavior which forms different types and a corrective measure taken was very
weak. Therefore, it is recommended if local government finds solution for highly expanding
juvenile delinquency behavior in the region by collaboratively working with juvenile parents,
NGOs, school communities and other stakeholders.
