Solving Youth Crime Crisis Through Ancient Values and Modern Practices: October 2024
Youth crime crisis is at an all-time high in Australia, particularly among children and teenagers who have experienced domestic violence, sexual abuse and trauma. The complexity of this problem poses severe questions for society: Where should these children be placed? They cannot safely remain at home, locking them up in jail is not a solution, and leaving them unsupervised in society risks perpetuating the cycle of violence. Addressing the root of youth crime and finding effective solutions to heal their trauma and reintegrate them into society is a pressing challenge. To find answers, we must take a comprehensive approach, examining both the modern approach and the wisdom of ancient Vedic traditions, comparing what works and what is missing from contemporary strategies. Only by considering all aspects of the issue can we hope to find effective solutions.
Here you can read & understand the gravity of the problem of Youth Crime in Australia by deciphering the data provided by the Australian Government - Report
The Root of Youth Crime
At the core of youth crime lies trauma, often stemming from domestic violence, sexual abuse, neglect, and other physical & psychological abuse. Children growing up in unstable, violent environments may witness or experience behaviours that lead them to mimic these actions later in life.
The root cause of youth crime and trauma often lies in:
Cycles of Domestic Violence and Abuse: Most young offenders come from families where violence, neglect, or substance abuse is prevalent. Without intervention, children absorb these behaviours and may reproduce them later.
Poverty and Social Disadvantage: Economic hardship can exacerbate family stress, violence, and poor mental health, creating environments where youth are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour.
Lack of Support Services: Many families and youth do not have access to adequate support services (mental health, addiction services, counselling), making it difficult to break cycles of trauma.
Disconnection from Education: When youth disengage from school due to trauma or home instability, they miss out on critical social and emotional development, which can increase the likelihood of criminal behaviour.
From Home to the Underworld: How Criminal Networks Exploit Society's Forgotten Youth
Children and youth from broken homes and dysfunctional families are among the most vulnerable populations globally. Without the safety, stability, or emotional support that families should provide, these young individuals often fall prey to exploitation by criminal organisations.
Here’s how different exploitative groups target and abuse such children and youth across India, Asia, Australia, and globally:
1. Beggars Gangs in India and Asia
Beggars' gangs are criminal groups that exploit children from impoverished or broken families, often forcing them into a life of begging.
Targeting Vulnerable Youth: Children who come from abusive households or are abandoned on the streets are easy targets for these gangs. Often, they are kidnapped, coerced, or "adopted" under false pretences, sometimes even by pretending to offer shelter and food.
Exploitation through Begging: These children are forced to beg in busy urban areas, railway stations, and tourist spots. Many are physically mutilated or disfigured by gang members to evoke more sympathy from the public and thereby collect more money. Children may have limbs amputated, be intentionally blinded, or subjected to malnutrition to make their appearances more pitiful.
Lack of Escape: These children are controlled through violence, drug addiction, or threats of harm to themselves or their loved ones. They are often unable to escape, being treated as property by their captors.
No Access to Education or Future: Instead of receiving education or opportunities for personal growth, these children spend their lives in an endless cycle of abuse, exploitation, and begging, with the money they collect funnelled directly to the gang leaders.
2. Human Trafficking Groups
Human trafficking is a global problem, where children and youth are sold, coerced, or tricked into lives of sexual exploitation, forced labour, or domestic servitude.
Sexual Exploitation: Youth from broken homes, especially girls, are frequently trafficked into prostitution rings, where they are sold for sex. Traffickers often lure vulnerable children with false promises of jobs, education, or marriage. Once trapped, these children are subjected to brutal physical and sexual abuse and are kept in captivity through violence or psychological manipulation.
Forced Labour: Children are trafficked into industries like construction, agriculture, and domestic work. They are often made to work long hours in hazardous conditions for little or no pay. Without a family to protect them, these youth have no way to escape or report their abusers.
Global Reach: Human trafficking is not limited to one region; it is a multi-billion-dollar global industry. In India and Southeast Asia, young children are trafficked across borders, while in countries like Australia, vulnerable youth are trafficked by criminal groups both domestically and internationally.
3. Drug Cartels
Drug cartels and gangs around the world often exploit children and youth as they seek new members to carry out their criminal activities.
Recruitment into Drug Networks: Youth from broken homes are particularly susceptible to gang recruitment. These gangs provide a sense of belonging and financial support, which many of these children lack. They are often lured into working as drug couriers or distributors under promises of wealth and status.
Drug Mules and Couriers: Children are often used as "drug mules" to transport narcotics because they are less likely to be suspected by authorities. They may be coerced into swallowing drug packets or carrying them across borders, putting their lives in danger.
Addiction and Control: Cartels use drug addiction as a tool of control. Vulnerable youth are introduced to substances at an early age, making them dependent and easier to manipulate. The promise of a steady drug supply keeps them compliant and loyal to the cartel’s activities.
Violence and Involvement in Crime: In some cases, youth are used to commit violent acts, such as carrying out hits or engaging in territorial battles between rival gangs. These children often face severe legal consequences if caught, and their futures are ruined, making reintegration into society extremely difficult.
4. Organised Crime in Australia and the West
Organised crime networks, including human trafficking rings and drug cartels, are increasingly targeting vulnerable youth in countries like Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Exploitation of Indigenous and Marginalised Youth: In Australia, Indigenous youth, in particular, are at high risk of exploitation due to systemic inequalities, poverty, and familial breakdowns. Organised crime networks target these young individuals, coercing them into drug trafficking or other criminal activities.
Sexual Exploitation and Online Trafficking: In Western countries, online grooming and trafficking have become increasingly prevalent. Traffickers use social media platforms to lure vulnerable children from broken homes, often enticing them into sending explicit images or meeting strangers under false pretences. From there, they may be blackmailed into performing further acts or trafficked into sex work.
Child Labour in Illicit Industries: While child labour is less visible in Western countries compared to Asia, it still exists in forms such as working in illegal sweatshops, being forced into petty crime, or engaging in the underground drug economy. The lure of quick money draws many children from unstable backgrounds into this dangerous world.
5. International Organised Criminal Networks
Globally, organised criminal networks traffic youth across international borders for forced labour, sexual exploitation, or organs & bones harvesting. Vulnerable youth from broken homes or war-torn regions in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia are particularly at risk.
Exploitation of Refugees and Displaced Children: In regions affected by war, natural disasters, or economic crises, displaced children become easy prey for traffickers. They may be lured with false promises of asylum, food, or shelter, only to be sold into forced labour or prostitution rings in foreign countries.
Forced Marriage: In some parts of the world, girls from disadvantaged or broken families are trafficked and sold into forced marriages, particularly in countries with high levels of poverty or cultural practices that commodify young girls.
6. Gangs and Petty Crime Networks
Youth from broken homes are often recruited into gangs and used for small-scale criminal operations such as theft, robbery, or drug distribution.
Petty Crime and Theft: Gangs frequently exploit young people to carry out petty crimes like shoplifting, pickpocketing, or home invasions. These youth are often coerced into performing these tasks under threat or with promises of safety and belonging.
Cycle of Criminality: Once involved, it is hard for these children to break free from the cycle of crime. Gangs may use violence or manipulation to keep the youth under their control, offering them no alternative path. Without family or institutional support, these children often become lifelong criminals.
The Global Scale of Exploitation: Youth Crime Crisis Australia
The exploitation of youth from broken homes is not restricted to any one country or region. It is a global crisis that affects millions of children. The factors that make them vulnerable—such as family breakdown, poverty, lack of education, and systemic neglect—are present worldwide.
These criminal organisations take advantage of these vulnerabilities, robbing children and youth of their innocence, education, and future. In many cases, once exploited, these young individuals are trapped in a cycle of exploitation, addiction, and violence, with little chance of escape or rehabilitation.
The Perfect Storm: What Fuels the Sudden Rise in Youth Crime
Several factors can lead to a sudden rise in youth crime, especially when vulnerable young people lose crucial support systems, face adverse social conditions, or experience disruptions in their environment. Some key contributing factors include:
1. Removal of Gang Leaders and Disruption of Criminal Networks
Power Vacuum: When police and justice systems successfully remove gang leaders or dismantle organised crime networks, this can unintentionally lead to a power vacuum. Gangs often provide a form of "employment" and a sense of belonging to vulnerable youth. With no strong leadership, younger members might engage in more chaotic, unorganised, and violent criminal behaviour as they vie for power and territory.
Increased Violence: The removal of leaders who previously "kept order" within gang structures can lead to increased inter-gang violence and retaliation. As the structure disintegrates, lower-level members and youth may be more likely to act out, seeking to assert dominance or protect their livelihood.
2. Changes to the Justice System
Harsher Penalties for Juvenile Offenders: If changes to the justice system impose harsher penalties on youth offenders, it can lead to higher rates of reoffending. Incarceration often exposes young people to hardened criminals and further entrenches them in a life of crime rather than rehabilitating them.
Reduction in Restorative Justice Approaches: Modern systems that shift away from restorative justice programs (which aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate youth into society) toward more punitive approaches may fail to address the root causes of youth crime, like trauma, poverty, and lack of education.
Criminalisation of Minor Offenses: Increased criminalisation of petty crimes, which youth often engage in out of necessity or peer pressure, can draw more children into the justice system at an early age. This can cause a "school-to-prison pipeline," where minor offenders become serious criminals due to their exposure to the system.
3. Economic Instability and Unemployment
Lack of Opportunities: Economic downturns or rising unemployment rates can leave vulnerable youth with fewer opportunities for legitimate employment. In such situations, crime becomes a more appealing option as a way to earn money or survive. When legal avenues are unavailable, young people may turn to gangs, drug trafficking, or theft for financial stability.
Worsening Poverty: Economic instability can exacerbate existing inequalities and create desperation among at-risk youth. Poverty increases the likelihood of involvement in crime, particularly when combined with poor access to education, housing, and healthcare.
4. Reduction in Social Welfare and Support Systems
Cuts to Social Services: Reductions in funding for social welfare programs, youth support centres, mental health services, and domestic violence shelters can remove the safety nets that prevent at-risk youth from turning to crime. Children from troubled families rely on these services for guidance, emotional support, and protection.
Decreased Access to Counselling and Rehabilitation: Funding cuts to mental health and counselling services mean that fewer young people receive the help they need to cope with trauma, depression, or anxiety. Untreated mental health issues can lead to antisocial behaviour, aggression, and involvement in crime. Report
Reduced Support for Domestic Violence Victims: When victims of domestic violence (often parents or guardians) cannot access support services, it creates an unsafe environment for children. Growing up in violent or unstable households can lead children to engage in risky or criminal behaviour as a coping mechanism or escape.
5. Family Breakdown and Lack of Parental Supervision
Parental Absence: Youth crime often rises when parents or guardians are absent or unable to provide supervision, either due to economic hardship, substance abuse, incarceration, or mental health issues. Without proper guidance, children may seek out gangs or other deviant groups to fill that void.
Intergenerational Trauma: Families with histories of violence, poverty, or incarceration often pass these issues down through generations. Children raised in such environments are more likely to engage in criminal activity as they see it as a normal or unavoidable path.
6. Influence of Social Media and Gang Culture
Glorification of Crime: Social media can expose young people to the glorification of gang culture, violence, and criminal behaviour. Peer pressure, combined with the desire for social status or recognition, can push youth into criminal activities, particularly when they lack alternative positive role models.
Recruitment via Social Media: Criminal organisations, including gangs and drug networks, increasingly use social media to recruit vulnerable youth. Social media offers anonymity and easy communication, making it an effective tool for criminals to reach out to young people from broken homes or marginalised communities.
7. Breakdown of Community and Social Networks
Loss of Community Support: As communities become more fragmented and disconnected, the traditional role of community-based mentorship and guidance diminishes. Vulnerable youth may no longer have access to positive role models, community leaders, or elders who could intervene and steer them away from crime.
Disintegration of Social Norms: When communities face economic and social hardships, social norms that previously discouraged criminal behaviour may erode. In areas where crime becomes more common, youth can grow up perceiving it as a regular and even necessary part of life.
8. Gaps in the Education System
School Dropouts: Youth who drop out of school are significantly more likely to engage in criminal activities. Lack of education limits future job opportunities, leading to financial instability and increased susceptibility to gangs or criminal networks. Failing to keep youth engaged in education or vocational training leaves them more vulnerable to criminal influence.
Schools as Unsafe Environments: In some cases, schools themselves become environments of bullying, violence, or drug use, particularly in disadvantaged areas. If schools fail to provide safe, supportive spaces for youth, they may push children towards alternative (and often illegal) ways to feel empowered or secure.
9. Substance Abuse and Addiction
Drug and Alcohol Abuse: Youth who grow up in environments where substance abuse is common are more likely to develop their own addiction issues. Drug use can lead to criminal activity, either to sustain the addiction or because of the influence of drug cartels that exploit vulnerable users as couriers or distributors.
Lack of Access to Rehabilitation: When youth struggling with addiction cannot access treatment and rehabilitation services, they often remain trapped in cycles of drug use and criminal behaviour. Failure to address the root cause of substance abuse perpetuates this cycle, leading to further involvement in crime.
10. Overburdened Justice Systems
Delays and Backlogs: When justice systems are overburdened or underfunded, cases involving youth offenders may experience significant delays, reducing the deterrent effect of the law. Prolonged periods before sentencing or rehabilitation lead to youth remaining in the criminal environment for extended periods, often committing more crimes.
Lack of Individualised Rehabilitation: Overcrowded prisons and juvenile detention centres often lack the resources to provide individualised rehabilitation programs tailored to the needs of each offender. Without proper care and guidance, young people emerge from detention without the tools needed to reform, increasing recidivism rates.
Report: Youth Justice & Crime Australia
Modern Approach & Solutions
1. Where to Place These Children?
These children, often traumatised by domestic violence, cannot safely stay at home, yet traditional punitive measures like incarceration aren't suitable either. Here are possible solutions:
Trauma-informed Care Residential Facilities: Youth who are too traumatised to remain in the home or return to society without intervention should be housed in specialised care facilities. These would be secure but therapeutic environments designed to address the specific trauma and behavioural needs of the youth.
Therapeutic Foster Care: A specialised foster care model where trained foster parents provide not just a home but therapeutic support and a nurturing environment.
Temporary Shelters with Specialised Services: These shelters should provide wrap-around services, including trauma counselling, mentoring, and education, aimed at rehabilitation rather than punishment.
2. How to Heal the Trauma?
Healing trauma requires a comprehensive and sustained effort, involving various types of therapeutic approaches:
Trauma-informed Therapy: Programs like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Art Therapy can help young people process and heal from trauma.
Family Support Services: If family reunification is possible, counselling services for families, along with conflict resolution and family therapy, can help rebuild safe environments for youth to return to.
Youth Mentoring Programs: Having positive role models from within the community can help guide youth away from violence and criminal behaviour.
Rehabilitation Programs Focused on Education and Skill Development: Trauma-healing is most successful when combined with empowerment. Programs that teach social, emotional, and vocational skills help youth integrate back into society.
3. What Can the Government Do?
The government has a critical role in addressing youth crime crisis in Australia that rooted in trauma:
Invest in Early Intervention Programs: Target families and children at risk before trauma escalates into criminal behaviour. Programs in schools, communities, and through healthcare services can identify children in need early on.
Expand Trauma-informed Support Networks: Establish and fund more facilities and services specifically designed to address trauma in young people. This includes mental health services, legal support, and housing for children fleeing violence.
Reform Juvenile Justice: Juvenile justice systems should focus more on rehabilitation and restorative justice rather than punishment. Young offenders, particularly those who have experienced trauma, should be diverted away from criminal pathways.
Support Communities: Building more robust social services in communities heavily affected by violence, including outreach programs, can help reduce crime by tackling some of the root causes.
What Can Society Do?
Society as a whole plays a crucial role in supporting and integrating at-risk youth:
Promote Community-based Programs: Community engagement and support are vital. Programs that involve the wider community in youth mentorship, recreational activities, and restorative justice practices help integrate these young people back into society.
Destigmatise Mental Health Support: A cultural shift is needed to normalise seeking help for trauma and mental health issues. Schools, sports clubs, and youth organisations should emphasise mental health care as part of overall well-being.
Advocate for Policy Changes: Community organisations, advocacy groups, and individuals can push for policy reforms that focus on prevention, healing, and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
Build Inclusive Networks: Schools, faith-based organisations, and community centres should become inclusive spaces that provide support, role models, and positive experiences for youth who are at risk of falling into criminal behaviour.
Ancient Indian, Vedic Approach & Solution
At times, we need to look to ancient Indian and Vedic social systems to understand how they achieved the pinnacle of human consciousness evolution and what structures were in place to prevent the emergence of modern social issues. By studying these systems, we can gain insights into how to address and mitigate such challenges today.
In ancient Vedic and Indian wisdom, particularly during the times when the Gurukula system was prevalent, society had a holistic approach to handling youth development, family issues, and social challenges like trauma and violence. The Gurukula system emphasised spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and moral education, providing an environment that could be particularly effective for addressing issues like trauma and social deviance in children and youth. Here's how the ancient Vedic system and Indian wisdom would approach the problem:
1. Role of Gurukulas (Holistic Education and Rehabilitation)
Gurukula as a Sanctuary: In the ancient system, Gurukulas were not just educational institutions but places of refuge where children, regardless of their background, could come and receive guidance, shelter, and protection. Those who were orphaned, traumatised, or came from difficult family situations were sent to Gurukulas to learn under the guidance of a Guru (spiritual teacher). Here, they would receive emotional and spiritual healing through various practices.
Moral and Character Development: The Gurukula system was not merely academic. Its focus was on shaping the character of young individuals through Dharma (righteousness), teaching them how to lead a life of virtue and self-discipline. The Guru would act as a parental figure, guiding students in areas like non-violence, truthfulness, self-control, compassion, and service to society. This holistic education helped to heal and rehabilitate youth who had experienced trauma, giving them a strong ethical foundation.
Seva (Service) and Self-Discipline: Gurukula life involved daily duties and responsibilities, like tending to animals, cleaning, and serving the community. This Seva (selfless service) was a tool for inner healing and growth, teaching the youth humility, empathy, and responsibility, which are critical in overcoming personal trauma.
2. Healing Trauma through Spiritual and Yogic Practices
Meditation and Self-Awareness: The Gurukula system incorporated various spiritual practices like meditation, yoga, and pranayama (breathing exercises), which were used to calm the mind, stabilise emotions, and cultivate inner peace. These practices are especially useful for trauma healing, as they promote mental clarity, emotional balance, and self-awareness.
Mantra Therapy: The recitation of Vedic mantras and hymns was a powerful practice used in the Gurukulas. These mantras purify the mind, instil positive energy, and remove inner disturbances. Chanting specific mantras for healing help calm the youth’s minds and alleviate the deep emotional scars caused by domestic violence or trauma.
Connection with Nature (Prakriti): Gurukulas were often located in natural, serene environments, surrounded by forests, rivers, and wildlife. In Vedic culture, it was understood that nature plays a significant role in healing the mind and body. Spending time in nature, practicing self-awareness, and learning through observation helped the children reconnect with themselves and heal their trauma.
3. Restoring Social Harmony through Dharma
Dharma and Social Responsibility: The concept of Dharma (Personal & Social Laws, Duty) was central to Vedic thought. It stressed the responsibility each individual had toward society and family. For youth who had been involved in violence or faced traumatic domestic situations, the Gurukula system taught the importance of living according to Dharma—doing one’s duty, contributing positively to society, and resolving conflicts without violence.
Non-Violence (Ahimsa) and Compassion: The Vedic system upheld the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) as a key value. Students in Gurukulas were trained to practice non-violence not just in their actions but also in their thoughts and speech. This would have been an important tool in curbing tendencies toward violence in youth who had experienced or witnessed violence at home.
Reintegration through Karma and Service: The belief in Karma (action and its consequences) was a key part of teaching students that their actions had long-term effects on their lives and society. Through self-reflection, meditation, and learning the laws of Karma, youth would be encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and work toward positive outcomes through service to others.
4. Community and Familial Support
Community Healing: In Vedic society, the responsibility for a child’s upbringing and healing wasn’t solely on the family. The entire community (Sangha) played a role in nurturing and supporting young individuals. The Gurukula, along with the community of elders, teachers, and spiritual guides, provided a stable social structure for troubled or traumatised youth, helping them reintegrate into society with the support of the collective.
Gurus as Family Figures: The role of the Guru in ancient India went beyond that of a teacher. The Guru acted as a mentor, counsellor, and parental figure who was deeply involved in the student’s personal growth and well-being. Children from broken homes or those who faced trauma would receive the same care, guidance, and affection as other students, and often more attention, to help them heal.
5. Preventing Future Trauma: Societal Structures and Dharma
Strong Familial Dharma: In Vedic times, the family was considered the first Gurukula, and there was a strong emphasis on teaching Dharma within the household. The societal structure promoted Grihasta Dharma (householder’s duty), where parents were expected to raise children in a way that instilled values of kindness, self-control, and respect for all living beings. Failure to do this was seen as a failure of the family’s duty, and mechanisms like community intervention existed to guide troubled families back to Dharma.
Social Justice and Support for Vulnerable Groups: Ancient texts like the Arthashastra (political and legal treatise) outline the king's (government’s) duty to provide for and protect vulnerable members of society, including orphans, the poor, and those suffering from injustice or violence. The state had a responsibility to ensure that such individuals were cared for and given opportunities to reintegrate into society.
6. Restorative Justice
Restorative rather than Punitive Systems: Ancient Indian society placed an emphasis on restorative justice, focusing on reconciliation and rehabilitation rather than punishment.
If a youth committed a crime or violent act, the focus was on restoring balance (Ṛta) through making amends, community service, or engaging in spiritually uplifting activities, rather than imprisonment or harsh punishment.
Here is a comparative table highlighting the differences between modern societies and ancient Vedic societies in addressing youth trauma, crime, and rehabilitation. It also points out what is missing from modern societies compared to the holistic approach of the ancient Vedic system.
Conclusion
The rise of youth crime in Australia is a symptom of deeper societal issues, including trauma, violence, and disconnection. While modern approaches focus on rehabilitation and punishment, they often miss the holistic and spiritual dimensions necessary for true healing and reintegration. By drawing inspiration from ancient Vedic wisdom, which emphasised character-building, community responsibility, and restorative justice, modern societies can create more effective solutions to address youth trauma and crime, ultimately guiding troubled youth back toward a path of righteousness and inner peace.
Let's open the doors of a Healthy & Happy world for all Children!
Jai Shivay
Prakriti
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