臺灣博碩士論文加值系統

Improving the life outcomes of underprivileged and disadvantaged youths is the priority of many governments including Belize’s. While this is so, many young males continue to diverge into the juvenile criminal system. The purpose of this research is to provide a better understanding of two overlapping features: criminal involvement and low educational attainment and how these two are interrelated. The purpose of this study is to find out whether the educational attainment of youths incarcerated factored into their involvement into crime and to identify the challenges that exists within the access to educational opportunities. Also, this research looks at the school to prison pipeline and conditions relating to educational exclusion to better assess the issue stemming from the rampant rise youth crime and incarceration experienced in Belize over the last 5 years. The motivation for this research stems from the experience as an educator with the rise of youths out of school, engaging in criminal activities and ending up in prison. The research qualitative in nature utilized the expertise and experience of five persons who are actively engaged in combating the issue of youth violence and incarceration in Belize. The five senior participants have over five years in their specialized areas and are in contact with the youths at the Wagner’s Facility. The data collection utilized online zoom meetings which were later transcripted and coded using manual thematic analysis and NVivo 12. The findings from the data highlighted twelve overlapping themes which were instrumental in answering the four proposed research questions which addressed issues related to educational exclusion, educational attainment, dropout and delinquency and reintegration of incarcerated youths into education. This research will provide meaningful information to guide policy measures, interventions and programs aiming to reduce crime among young people through the supporting of educational inclusion which can in turn positively curb the prison-to- school pipeline.

Acknowledgments i
Abstract ii
Table of Contents iii
List of Tables v
List of Figures vi
Chapter 1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background of the Problem 1
1.1.1 Belize’s Demography & Crime Statistics 3
1.1.2 Youth Crime in Belize 4
1.1.3 Covid-19 Impact on Education in Belize 5
1.1.4 Statement of the Problem 6
1.1.5 Purpose of the Study 9
1.2 Research Questions 9
1.3 Significance of the Study 11
1.4 Scope of the Study 12
1.5 Operational Definition of Terms 15
1.6 Organization of the Research 15
Chapter 2 Literature Review 19
2.1 Introduction 20
2.2 The Association between Exclusionary Practices and the Juvenile Justice System 23
2.3 Youth Crime versus Adult Crime: A look at the Differences 27
2.4 Delinquency and Early School Leaving: Analysis of the Dropout Situation 30
2.5 The Effect of Educational Attainment on Youth Crime 33
2.6 Schooling and Youth Incarceration: A look at the School to Prison Pipeline 35
2.7 Relationship between the Family and Juvenile Crime 39
2.8 Educational Interventions for at Risk Youths 40
2.8.1 Theoretical Foundations of Juvenile Delinquency 41
2.9 Summary 43
Chapter 3 Methodology 45
3.1 The Research Framework: Proposed Theoretical Model 45
3.2 Research Design 48
3.3 Target Population and Sample 49
3.4 Data Collection 51
3.4.1 Data Collection Procedure: Research Instrument 51
3.4.2 Demography of the Participants 52
3.5 Method of Data Analysis 53
3.5.1 Thematic Analysis 54
3.5.2 Step by Step use of Thematic Analysis in the Research 55
3.5.3 Trustworthiness 57
3.6 Summary 58
Chapter 4 Findings and Discussion 59
4.1 Analysis and Results of the Research Questions 59
4.1.1 Finding in Relation to the Research Questions 65
4.1.2 Themes under Delinquency and Dropout: Pathways from School Exclusion to Crime 68
4.1.3 Learning Problems: Conditions of school Dropout and its Relation to Crime 71
4.1.4 Program Assisting at Risk Youths: Inclusion Support Systems 74
4.1.5 Summary of Findings 79
4.2 Thematic Maps: Making Cross Connections amongst Themes and Research Questions 81
4.3 Discussion Based on Research Questions 83
4.3.1 Discussion Dialogue for Research Question 1 86
4.3.2 Discussion Dialogue for Research Question 2 88
4.3.3 Discussion Dialogue for Research Question 3 90
4.3.4 Discussion Dialogue for Research Question 4 92
Chapter 5 Conclusions, Suggestions and Recommendations 95
5.1 Conclusion 95
5.1.1 What are the Educational Level and Family Economic Status of Belize Prison Juvenile Inmates? 95
5.1.2 Do delinquency and dropout structure pathways from school exclusion to youth crime? 96
5.1.3 Are there any problems between dropouts and school studies directly related to crime? 96
5.1.4 How the Belize government assisted the released juvenile inmates to return to school? 97
5.1.5 Summary of Conclusion 97
5.2 Limitations 99
5.3 Suggestions based on Research 100
5.4 Future Research Recommendations 104
References 105
Appendices 117

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