Alarming levels of abuse, family instability and exposure to crime in early childhood are fuelling Trinidad and Tobago’s growing youth violence problem, according to Criminologist Dr Randy Seepersad.
Speaking on Trinidad and Tobago Today, Dr. Seepersad said research shows that many young offenders were shaped long before they entered the criminal justice system, growing up with multiple adverse childhood experiences that sharply increase the risk of later violence.
He pointed to recent local and international research revealing that significant numbers of children are raised in homes affected by incarceration, emotional and physical abuse, substance misuse and family breakdown.
“And for instance, we found for the average youth, and these figures are still very high, mind you, 25% had substance use in the home when they were a child versus 43% in St. Jude’s and YTRC who had parents who abused substances. In the country as a whole, 21% had a parent with mental illness compared to 26% of youths in St. Jude’s and YTRC. In the country as a whole, 26% had, this is very high, a household member who was incarcerated versus 63% of youths who were in St. Jude’s and YTRC.”