Abstract:
Juvenile delinquency is becoming an emerging and dramatically growing social problem
globally that has received wide recognition in recent years. Studies in different countries have
indicated that children come to contact with legal issues as delinquents due to various psychological
and socioeconomic factors and which are not strange to Ethiopian context. Most of the existing studies
in Ethiopia focused to assess nature of treatment and legal frameworks towards delinquent children.
Thus, this study revealed contributing factors for children’s delinquent behavior in the study area. To
explore such factors, then, qualitative research approach with case study research was employed. For
the accomplishment of the study nine juvenile delinquents and three key informants were participated.
The relevant data were collected through in-depth interview, key informant interview, and document
reviews. The gathered data were transcribed, coded, categorized and themed into meaningful
interpretations and analyzed thematically.
The findings of the study revealed that children engaged in delinquent activities due to the
influence of their peers, unemployment, immaturity, and low attachment/intimacy to their significant
others. Juveniles are influenced to engage in different criminal activity depending on their existing
conditions. As juvenile delinquency is becoming more visible and spread out in today’s society, due
emphasis has to be given to work against these precipitating factors
