Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Bibliography: leaves 187-208.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 248-259).

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.(Leg. St. & Crim. Jus.))--University of Queensland, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Marshall University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 40 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 37-40).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Queensland, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references.

In recent time, juvenile delinquency and its associated problems pose serious threat to Lesotho and across the globe. This includes actions and inactions of children below the age of eighteen, of which the child is subject to conviction by the state. This study investigated the social background patterns of juvenile delinquents to ascertain their contributions to juvenile delinquencies in Lesotho. The study made use of all the 43 juveniles who were in the Juvenile Training Centre (JTC) in Maseru at the time of this research. Relevant data were collected through the use of survey questionnaires with close-ended questions. The results in the main corroborated what exists in literature that most delinquents come from broken homes; most delinquents are males; delinquency is at a higher rate in urban areas compared to the rural areas and that most delinquents are part of peer groups who engage in delinquent behaviours. Precisely, Maseru the capital city of Lesotho and Leribe were found to be the districts with highest rates of juvenile delinquency. It was also discovered that most of the juveniles have fathers who are employed in the mining industry. The most committed offence across the country was robbery. The high rates of robbery, housebreaking and stock theft indicate that poverty may be the factor behind the scene in Lesotho, which requires urgent attention from the government to tackle and eradicate poverty.

Eighteenth Century Berkshire was a relatively prosperous agricultural county, with a steadily growing population and several thriving commercial centres. This thesis has examined the recorded incidence of the most common criminal offences against the person and against property in the fifty years between 1740 and 1789. Common assault was the most frequent offence against the person, but its incidence remained fairly steady until the 1770s, and only thereafter did it cause the authorities any real concern. The incidence and variety of assaults was examined and so too were murder, infanticide, manslaughter and rape. It is suggested that violence was never far below the surface of the small, close-knit communities of rural Berkshire, yet it was not indiscriminate. Recorded theft was also examined and there was a considerable increase in prosecutions during the period. Convictions for petty larceny were particularly large. Factors which might have been responsible for this increase in recorded crime were examined and so too was the process of detection, apprehension and conviction. Justices of the Peace, although diligent, prudent and severe when required to be, were too few in number and too widely scattered throughout the county to be entirely effective. Personal initiative was found to be an important and integral part of the fight against crime. Litigants predominated amongst the middling groups in rural society, yet labourers did use the law, albeit when informal arbitration and sanctions had failed. It is suggested that they initially depended on "community justice" to resolve their differences.

Not available / text

No description available.

No description available.