Factors Influencing Juvenile Delinquencies Among Juvenile
[A CASE STUDY OF BORSTAL TRAINING INSTITUTE GANMO, KWARA STATE.]

Biological factors and juvenile delinquency
    In one study, Alexander Schauss (1980) compared a sample of macerated youth with a non-delinquent control group and found that the most significant factor separating the youths was the extremely high milk intake among the delinquents.
    Iwarimie – Jaja (1999a:46) assets that:
On the hypothetical correlation between anti-social behaviour and bio-chemical make-up, it may be argued that people’s intake, particularly chemical foods, drugs and drinks may alter or influence behaviour, not, particularly criminal or delinquent, but aggressive and violent, which, may not be intentional”.
    However, some studies have criticize the predictive power of the link between juvenile delinquency exist that some recent studies (e.g. Ferguson et.al, 1980) have failed to substantiate this claim, especially in the association between sugar consumption and violent behaviour. However, research studies which associate violent behaviour with abnormal hormone level seem to predict that there is a causal relationship between abnormal levels of the male sex hormones androgens and aggressive behaviour. Ellis (1989) has identified excess of androgens as one causal of brain seizure which under stressful conditions, leads to emotional volatility.
    Moreover, criminologists have investigated the effect of allergies, especially cerebral allergies and neuroallergies on anti-social behaviour. According to Siegel (1992:161).
Cerebral allergies cause, an excessive reaction of the brain, where as neuro-allergies affect the nervous system. Neuroallergies and cerebral allergies are believed to cause the allergic person to produce enzymes that attack wholesome foods as if they are dangerous to the body. They may dangerous to the body. They may also cause swelling of the brain, which can produce mental, emotional and behavioural problems including hyper-emotionality, aggressiveness and violent behaviour”.
    However, while this evidence seems persuasive, the relationship between biochemical intake and abnormal behaviour is far from being both methodologically unsound and also in practical because of the cost of providing dietary supplement for actual and potential delinquent. In addition, a number of controlled experiment have failed to substantiate any real link between the two variables. Nutritionist Dian Vans reviewed the available evidence and found reason to doubt a diet – delinquency link.
    Another important area of concern for biological researchers is the genetic make-up of delinquents. It has been hypothesized that some youths inherit a genetic configuration that predisposes them to violence and aggression over the life course.
    Jacobs and her associates (1965) in Scotland posit that violent criminal conduct is caused by a chromosome abnormality (the XYY pattern). The male with XYY chromosome pattern is more introverted, and exhibits anti social behaviour. He tends to behave aggressively and homosexually than the rest of the population. The assertion has been refuted by fox who reviewed various studies which support the thesis that XYY patterns leads to aggressive, anti-social behaviour.
    Adoption studies use adopted children, and study their behaviour to see if any hereditary influence exist that would cause delinquent behaviour. Siegel (1992: 160) asserts that:
The logic behind this line of inquiry is that if children’s behaviour is more similar to that of their biological parents than to that of their adoptive parents, then the idea of a genetic basis for criminality would be supported. If on the other hand, adoptees are more similar to their adoptive parent than their biological parents, an environmental basis for delinquency would seem more valid.