Poverty, Family Status, and Crime: Insights from Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria

The increasing rate of youth criminality has become a social menace from the global level to the local level.This study set out to examine the relationship between family status and youth criminality in Gwagwalada area council, FCT, Nigeria.The research is linked to social control theory on how social bonds and relationships within families influence deviant behaviour in individuals, including criminal activities.Using stratified sampling, 380 respondents were selected, and questionnaires were distributed to them.The result from the findings reveals that negative characters of parents are likely to instigate criminal behaviours among the youth.Again, it was discovered that single parenting is most likely to produce youths with criminal tendencies in society.Additionally, poverty promotes criminality.The study recommends that governments and other stakeholders should develop programs aimed at sensitizing parents on their roles and responsibilities and the youth should also be economically empowered and trained to be responsible and have a positive thinking irrespective of their family status in society.