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Policing the Delinquent Child in Ghana: Talk or Action?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

Samuel Marfo*
Affiliation:
Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, P.O. Box WA 64, Wa, Ghana
Halidu Musah
Affiliation:
Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, P.O. Box WA 64, Wa, Ghana
Florence Naah Bamora
Affiliation:
Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, P.O. Box WA 64, Wa, Ghana
Wilson Aniagyei
Affiliation:
Police Public Safety Training School, P.O. Box 22, Pwalugu-Bolgatanga, Upper East Region, Ghana
*
*Corresponding Author: Samuel Marfo, Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, P.O. Box WA 64, Wa, Ghana. E-mail: smarfo@ubids.edu.gh

Abstract

In Ghana, persons below 18 years of age are presumed to be children and vulnerable, and are expected to enjoy special protection and care against all hazards, even if they go against the law. This agrees with Ghana’s legal provision and other international legal documents. This study examined the knowledge of the police and their relationship with children in conflict with the law in Ghana using the Northern Region as a case study. Primary data were generated through interviews and questionnaire administration from a combined 219 participants who were purposely and systematically selected in a convergent mixed-methods design. The study found good knowledge of the police as to who a child in conflict with the law was (76%), yet only 40% rightly knew the criminal capacity of a child. The study revealed that the rights of children in conflict with the law, such as non-torture, access to legal assistance and right to safe custody, were flouted.

Abstracto

Abstracto

En Ghana, se presume que las personas menores de 18 años son niños y personas vulnerables y se espera que disfruten de protección y cuidados especiales contra todos los peligros, incluso si van en contra de la ley. Esto está de acuerdo con la disposición legal de Ghana y otros documentos legales internacionales. Este estudio examinó el conocimiento de la policía y la relación con los niños en conflicto con la ley en Ghana utilizando la Región Norte como estudio de caso. Los datos primarios se generaron a través de entrevistas y la administración de cuestionarios de un total de 219 participantes que fueron seleccionados deliberada y sistemáticamente en un diseño de método mixto convergente. El estudio encontró que el conocimiento de la Policía sobre quién es un niño en conflicto con la ley era bueno (76%), sin embargo, solo el 40% conocía correctamente la capacidad delictiva de un niño. El estudio reveló que los derechos de los niños en conflicto con la ley destinados a salvaguardar su transformación y reintegración, como la no tortura, el acceso a la asistencia legal y el derecho a la custodia segura, fueron burlados.

Abstrait

Abstrait

Au Ghana, les personnes de moins de 18 ans sont présumées être des enfants et vulnérables et doivent bénéficier d’une protection et de soins spéciaux contre tous les risques, même s’ils enfreignent la loi. Cela est conforme à la disposition légale du Ghana et à d’autres documents juridiques internationaux. Cette étude a examiné les connaissances et les relations de la police avec les enfants en conflit avec la loi au Ghana en utilisant la région du Nord comme étude de cas. Les données primaires ont été générées par le biais d’entretiens et de l’administration de questionnaires auprès de 219 participants combinés qui ont été délibérément et systématiquement sélectionnés dans une conception convergente à méthode mixte. Lʼétude a révélé que la connaissance de la police quant à savoir qui était un enfant en conflit avec la loi était bonne (76 %), mais seulement 40 % connaissaient à juste titre la capacité criminelle d’un enfant. Lʼétude a révélé que les droits des enfants en conflit avec la loi destinés à garantir leur transformation et leur réintégration, tels que la non-torture, l’accès à l’assistance juridique et le droit à la garde en toute sécurité, étaient bafoués.

抽象的

抽象的

在加纳,未满 18 岁的人被视为儿童和弱势群体,应享有特殊保护和照顾,免受所有危害,即使这些危害是违法的。 这与加纳的法律规定和其他国际法律文件一致。 本研究以北部地区为案例研究,调查了警察的知识以及与加纳违法儿童的关系。 主要数据是通过访谈和问卷管理从 219 名参与者中生成的,这些参与者是在收敛的混合方法设计中有目的地和系统地选择的。 研究发现,警方对触犯法律的儿童的了解程度良好(76%),但只有40%的人正确了解儿童的犯罪能力。 研究显示,与法律相抵触的儿童权利旨在保障他们的转变和重返社会,例如不受酷刑、获得法律援助和安全监护权,但遭到了蔑视。

خلاصة

خلاصة

في غانا ، يُفترض أن الأشخاص الذين تقل أعمارهم عن 18 عامًا هم من الأطفال والضعفاء ومن المتوقع أن يتمتعوا بحماية ورعاية خاصة ضد جميع المخاطر ، حتى لو خالفوا القانون. هذا يتفق مع أحكام غانا القانونية وغيرها من الوثائق القانونية الدولية. فحصت هذه الدراسة معرفة الشرطة والعلاقة مع الأطفال المخالفين للقانون في غانا باستخدام المنطقة الشمالية كدراسة حالة. تم إنشاء البيانات الأولية من خلال المقابلات وإدارة الاستبيان من مجموع 219 مشاركًا تم اختيارهم عن قصد ومنهجي في تصميم متقارب متعدد الأساليب. ووجدت الدراسة أن معرفة الشرطة بمن هو الطفل المخالف للقانون كانت جيدة (76٪) ، ومع ذلك ، فإن 40٪ فقط يعرفون عن حق القدرة الجنائية للطفل. وكشفت الدراسة أن حقوق الأطفال المخالفة للقانون التي تهدف إلى حماية تحولهم وإعادة دمجهم ، مثل عدم التعذيب ، والحصول على المساعدة القانونية والحق في الحجز الآمن ، قد تم انتهاكها

Type
Article
Copyright
© International Society of Criminology, 2023

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