Table 1 Categories of adolescents in custodial institutions and reasons for their placement

Beyond parental control’ (83; 52.5%)

Picked up by law enforcement agents haven been found abandoned, homeless or wandering the streets (39; 86.8%)

Theft (61; 38.6%)

Membership of and involvement in activities of armed gangs (8; 5.0%)

Found engaged in dangerous child labour like open-bus conducting (6; 11.3%)

Sexual offenses (4; 2.5%)

Adolescent girl living in a brothel (1; 1.9%)

Vandalism (2; 1.2%).

Total: 53 (100%)

Total: 158 (100%)