Increase in female juvenile offenders

The Royal Barbados Police Force has over time seen an increase in the number of female juvenile offenders, coming before the local criminal justice system.

As such, officers assigned to the Juvenile Liaison Department recently hosted a two-day workshop for female juvenile offenders, as part of an intervention strategy, under the theme “Ladies Aloud; Taking Charge of Our Future.”

Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler, Officer in Charge of Community Policing and the Juvenile Liaison Scheme, noted that the workshop which took place in the Officers’ Lounge at the Police Sports Club in Weymouth, St. Michael, was specifically designed to sensitise and stimulate awareness among female juvenile offenders, about the consequences associated with ‘at-risk’ behaviour. The workshop was also designed to empower the 15 young females between 12 to 17 years of age, to chart a more positive path for their future.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the workshop, Cobbler stressed, “Although boys continue to be the majority of persons involved in delinquency, overtime, the number of females coming before the criminal justice system has increased”.

“So this workshop is designed to sensitise them about the social dilemmas associated with at-risk behaviours. So at the end of the day, they are supposed to be empowered, so that they do not let past experiences determine their future,” the officer further explained.

He added, “Unfortunately, there are a number of factors which may increase the risk of females becoming involved in delinquent behaviour. Some of the major ones include sexual or physical abuse, teenage pregnancy, poor academic performance or sometimes the early onset of puberty.”

“So yes, females sometimes become at risk because of those pre-disposing factors. So the workshop is designed to look at mental health issues, to look at building self-esteem, so it’s looking at all those aspects critical to the positive development of young women,” the Acting Inspector revealed.