Environment of Crimes at Community Level A Facilitator to Juvenile Militancy in District Swat

Abstract

This research paper focuses on investigating the relationship between the overall crime environment and juvenile engagement in militant activities. The study involved interviews with all 83 juveniles who had been released from the Mishal Institute for the Rehabilitation of Juvenile Militants, employing a three-level Likert scale for data collection. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi-square test to assess the correlation between various factors under consideration. The findings revealed a significant association between juvenile militancy and several key variables, including residing in rural areas, local community members' involvement in criminal activities, family members' participation in criminal acts, challenges in adapting to the community environment, recurrent government force raids, detentions of community members by security forces, encouragement of criminal behavior by locals, severe penalties imposed on community members, training of children to break the law, and the influence of friends involved in criminal activities. Based on these insights, the study recommends several strategies to address and mitigate violent crimes among juveniles. These strategies encompass raising awareness in communities, revitalizing the family institution to ensure proper child upbringing, resolving disputes effectively, and implementing socio-economic interventions to address economic disparities. These measures collectively contribute to the prevention and control of juvenile engagement in militant activities, fostering a safer and more harmonious society.