More juvenile delinquency amid crisis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Psychologist Subyakto Atmosiswoyo said on
\nWednesday that juvenile delinquency was on the increase in the
\ncity because of the current economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Speaking at his inauguration ceremony as a professor at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia in Depok, Subyakto said the upward trend
\ncould be seen from the increase in deviant behavior, especially
\nstudent brawls and drug abuse.<\/p>\n
\"This phenomenon is caused mainly by both parents and students
\ngiving less attention to students during the crisis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Subyakto said that the rising trend could also be seen from
\nthe number of students rounded up by security officers for their
\nalleged involvement in delinquent acts.<\/p>\n
\"The number of students detained by officers, which reached
\nonly 375 in 1993, jumped to 1,842 in 1996.\"<\/p>\n
What was frightening was that the delinquency had spread to
\nother smaller towns, such as Tangerang, he said.<\/p>\n
The new professor said that the delinquency cases had
\ndeveloped into immoral acts and crimes, including not only
\nvandalizing public facilities, but also killing rival students
\nand extorting money from housewives.<\/p>\n
\"When we walk along the city's streets, we can frequently
\nwitness student fights and stone-throwing battles in the middle
\nof busy thoroughfares,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several youths involved in brawls had admitted they were
\naffected by a stimulant so they considered students from other
\nschools as enemies.<\/p>\n
Subyakto said that teenagers now started consuming narcotics,
\nincluding psychotropic drugs, at a younger age, between 15 and 25
\nyears old.<\/p>\n
He said Fatmawati Hospital's drug rehabilitation unit received
\nseven to 10 patients per day last year. Most were senior high
\nschool and college students.<\/p>\n
Some of the addicted teenagers stole to supplement their habit
\nsince they received insufficient money from their parents because
\nof the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Juvenile delinquency could no longer be separated from the
\nconsumption of drugs, which often resulted in brutal actions,
\ndamage, brawls and other crimes, he said.<\/p>\n
In order to help solve the problems, Subyakto suggested that
\nparents and teachers pay more attention to teenagers. However, he
\ndid not blame the parents who thought of their jobs in the
\ncrisis.<\/p>\n
\"What will happen to this nation if the teenagers, who are
\noften called the nation's heirs, are involved in so many kinds of
\ncrimes?,\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He said those teenagers should be taught more about religion,
\nhospitality and politeness.<\/p>\n
\"It's important to encourage them to say 'No' to drugs. We all
\nhave a moral obligation on this.\"<\/p>\n
He said experts on psychology, anthropology and sociology
\nshould be involved to help solve the problem. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-juvenile-delinquency-amid-crisis-1447893297",
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