A Criminological Review of Crimes Committed By Adolescents In Kendari City (A Study at Polresta Kendari)

Abstract

This study aims to examine juvenile delinquency in Kendari City from a criminological perspective, focusing on the
causal factors and law enforcement responses undertaken by the Kendari City Police Resort (Polresta Kendari). The
research is motivated by increasing concerns regarding adolescent involvement in criminal activities within urban
environments. A qualitative descriptive method was employed, utilizing both primary data obtained through field
interviews and secondary data derived from literature reviews and legal documents. The findings indicate that
criminal acts committed by adolescents in Kendari City during the period 2020–2024 totaled 22 cases, with
fluctuating trends across years. The causes of juvenile delinquency are categorized into internal and external factors.
Internal factors include psychological instability, weak self-control, and adverse childhood experiences such as
broken homes and lack of moral education. External factors consist of family environment, peer association, and
mass media influence, all of which significantly contribute to deviant behavior among adolescents. Furthermore, law
enforcement efforts by Polresta Kendari include preventive measures such as public education and socialization
programs, as well as repressive measures through legal action, school-based monitoring, and police raids. The study
concludes that juvenile crime prevention requires integrated collaboration between families, communities, and law
enforcement institutions to effectively reduce adolescent criminal behavior in Kendari City.