JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN JOS NORTH, PLATEAU STATE.

The study examined juvenile delinquency and academic performance of secondary school students in Jos North, Plateau State. Against the study between three objectives which are to determine the prevailing forms of juvenile delinquency among students in Jos North, Plateau State and the underlying factors contributing to these behaviours, to evaluate the impact of juvenile delinquency on the academic performance of students in Jos North, Plateau State as well as to examine the resources, support system and intervention strategies currently used to address the needs of students affected by juvenile delinquency in Jos North, Plateau State. This study employed operant conditioning theory to predict and understand the topic under study. The cross-sectional surveys research method was used for this study using questionnaire with a sample size of two hundred and twenty five (225). Equally, the data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentage. The result found that fuvenile delinquency has a significant impact on the academic performance of secondary school students of Jos North, Plateau State. Similarly, findings shows that family engagement and support, therapeutic and mental health interventions, education support and reintegration, school counselors and social workers,mentoring and vocational pathways were the support system and intervention strategies currently used to address the needs of students affected by juvenile delinquency in Jos North, Plateau State. Thus, the study recommended that the governments should invest in building more schools with upgraded facilities to improve the learning environment for secondary students. Additionally, modern youth rehabilitation centres should be established Keywords: Juvenile Delinquency, Secondary School, Academic Performance and Delinquent