FACTORS OF ADOLESCENT INVOLVEMENT IN JUVENILE CRIME: A STUDY AT ASRAMA AKHLAK RUSILA MARANG TERENGGANU

Juvenile crime is often reported as never ending. Therefore, the factors that cause this incident need to be studied. Among the crimes that often occur among teenagers are drug abuse, stealing, free sex, violent crimes, and damaging property. This study was conducted at Asrama Akhlak Rusila, Marang, Terengganu with the aim of identifying the factors that cause teenagers to get involved with juveniles. The methodology used is a qualitative method and a research tool using semi-structured interviews. The study sample was divided into two groups, namely two hostel officials and 12 juvenile offenders who were selected according to three groups with different family socioeconomic backgrounds, namely low, medium and high income according to the official government measure. Four juvenile offenders were selected for each group. The results of the study were analyzed using an inductive approach and it was found that the factors of teenage misbehavior are due to the feeling of wanting to try, the influence of friends, and the family's low socioeconomic status. The busyness of working parents causes teenagers to be free outside the home apart from teenagers looking for their own source of income to continue survival, thus causing them to get caught up in juvenile crime. In conclusion, when children are growing into teenagers, their socializing and activities need to be monitored by parents, close family members, and teachers to ensure that they socialize with friends who have good manners so that they do not engage in unhealthy activities. The implications of the study prove that the Children's Act 2011 can teach lessons to juvenile offenders and can give awareness to parents, family members, teachers, the community, and authorities about the factors that cause teenagers to be involved in juvenile crime so that all parties involved can take care and monitor the activities of teenagers so that the involvement of teenagers in juvenile crimes can be avoided.