A study on juvenile delinquency in Saint Lucia is challenging long-held assumptions about the causes of youth crime on the island. Dr Montelle Felix, a criminologist and Police Constable with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), has found that peer influence and weakened family bonds are more significant contributors to juvenile crime than poverty.
In an interview with St Lucia Times, Dr Felix urged a shift in how the island addresses youth crime. He stressed the importance of early intervention over traditional reactive policing and called for measures that focus on strengthening family ties, improving peer relationships, and providing positive role models before young people fall into criminal behaviour.
Saint Lucia’s crime challenges are well-documented. As of November 2024, the RSLPF had recorded 1 699 offences, surpassing the 1 643 total in 2023. Even more troubling, statistics from InsightCrime.org show that the island surpassed its 2023 record for the number of killings, with two more murders in 2024, bringing the total to 77. The majority of these victims were between the ages of 21 and 30.
In his 2023 research paper, The Impact of Social Learning and Social Bonds on Juvenile Delinquency: An Empirical Study of Secondary School Students in Saint Lucia, Dr Felix sought to identify “the criminogenic risk factors for juvenile delinquent behavior in Saint Lucian adolescents”, using a sample of first and second form secondary school students.
The researcher, who specialises in law enforcement decision-making, explained that his motivation for conducting the study stemmed from observing the ongoing rise in youth-related crimes and the need for evidence-based solutions.
His “most striking finding” was that peer influence was the most significant factor contributing to delinquent behaviour, even outweighing the impact of socioeconomic challenges.
“In Saint Lucia, youth crime often results from exposure to negative peer models combined with weak attachments to positive social structures, thereby reinforcing delinquent behaviours,” said Felix, who holds a PhD in Crime Prevention and Corrections from Central Police University.
“Poverty is undoubtedly influential, but the findings of my research indicate that peer pressure and weakened family and community bonds often exert a more immediate and direct impact. Essentially, economic hardship sets the stage, but it is the social environment and relationships that significantly trigger delinquent behaviour.”
In response to these findings, Dr Felix advocates for a shift in societal approaches to addressing juvenile crime. Like many fellow researchers, he supports the use of the “carrot” rather than the “stick” in dealing with the misbehaviour of minors.
Dr Felix recommends that schools implement screening programmes to identify at-risk youth early and foster environments that promote positive behaviour through mentorship, extracurricular activities, and positive reinforcement. He stressed that “teachers who build trusting relationships and actively encourage positive behaviors significantly strengthen students’ attachment to school and reduce delinquency”.
“I strongly advocate for school-based screening mechanisms to identify at-risk youth early, coupled with targeted interventions such as counselling, after-school engagement programmes, and family support initiatives,” he explained. “We need structured early intervention frameworks backed by both educational and community resources.”
The police constable further appealed to his colleagues in law enforcement to take a more proactive role in crime prevention rather than just reacting to incidents.
“Law enforcement should extend its role beyond reactive policing to proactive engagement, emphasising community-based partnerships, mentorship, youth programmes, and collaboration with families and schools. These efforts foster trust, create positive role models, and directly intervene before crime occurs,” he noted.
Ultimately, Dr Felix wants this research to be taken into serious consideration, suggesting that its findings could inform strategies for positive change, not only in Saint Lucia but across the wider region.
“My hope is that this research will encourage policymakers to adopt comprehensive, evidence-based strategies that prioritise early intervention, strengthen social bonds, and leverage community engagement. If embraced, this holistic approach could serve as a model for broader implementation across the Caribbean region, creating safer and more resilient communities,” he said.
The findings here are in keeping with that found over the years, poverty is not an issue in Saint Lucia, however it is defined. Even the so called “poorest” families have the latest technological marvels and a vehicle parked outside blocking the road! The so called bad boy image, walking like a duck because of pants being worn below the waist, wanting a big gold chain, the latest sneakers and so on, coupled with being lazy and a get rich quick mentality, are some of the biggest contributors to crime here.
Gangs should be made illegal here, any person found here belonging to a gang should be sent to the mega prison in El Salvador. It’s time the government outsource prison services, all serious offenders should be sent there, that would free up space at Borderlais.
Congratulations cuz. Your article is so true. I can relate to a lot of your suggestions. For, I worked very close in your field. Keep up the good work.
Absent fathers, multiple partners and children with every Tom, Dick and Harry does not create a stable environment for children. Take a good hard look at yourselves…
Valuable work. Useful insights Dr Felix!
@SLT thanks for highlighting valuable work of citizens instead of the lies, hate and unintelligence of politicians.
Looking forward to more positive contributions like these.
Very information and relevant article – I have known folk who come from poverty and went on to become great in their contribution to society as well as their personal careers. I can also relate as a daughter of the soil. There were 10 of us living in a one bedroom house with bunk beds in a consolidated household with two strong women mother and grandmother.
We were taught first and foremost to stay away from bad company and ensure/secure your education-we loved to go to school and to study. In addition, we were taught not to envy anyone – we listened and today I can say thanks to that upbringing. We have since passed down this upbringing to our children who were not born in St. Lucia.
Some of us are, health care administrators, registered nurses, engineers, educators, realtors, computer analysis, event planners etc. etc. etc.
I know for a fact – POVERTY IS NO EXCUSE FOR CRIME.