NCJ Number
70607
Date Published
1974
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Targeting increasing urbanization and the breakdown of the family as causes of crime in the Ivory Coast, this article describes social services helping crime prevention by serving needs formerly met by families.
Abstract
Increasing crime in the Ivory Coast is discussed as the result of the increasing growth of a Western economic and social system, leading to materialistic values and disintegration of the family and family controls. From 1950-1970, the population of the Ivory Coast increased from 3 million to 5 million, while the urban population grew from 8 to 29 percent of the total. The latter is due to a continuing exodus from the villages to the cities among young people, for a better living. However, unemployment and lack of social supports, the chief causes of crime, continue to plague city dwellers; thus, social services have been introduced to alleviate these problems. Social centers have existed since the 1950's to help care for children of working or otherwise absent mothers. The Ivory Coast currently has over 300 social workers, teachers, and others operating 31 centers throughout the country. The centers also distribute health and welfare information, administer centers for the poor, the sick, and the physically handicapped, and run learning centers for orphaned or abandoned children. The learning centers focus on causes of child behavior problems and attempts to teach children better attitudes toward school and society. The SOS Village of Abobo-Gare, a private institution established in 1964, provides a home and family living for 90 neglected or abandoned children. Finally, alcoholics and the mentally ill are treated at the Blue Cross Center and Bingerville Hospital, respectively. Discussion of these institutions covers numbers and character of patients or clients, and institutional goals. Footnotes, tables, and statistical information are provided. For related papers, see NCJ 70605.