ARGOSINO, Daniella

MACAWILE, Patricia Louise

DE LOS SANTOS, Mishaelle

PACHECO, Jobriel

HALILI, Adrian Kenneth

RILI, Jerome

MACAAMBAC, Fatima Rae

SOLIVEN, Samantha

2PSY2
November 8, 2016

Juvenile Delinquency: Risk Factors and Treatment

In the Philippines, the number of juvenile delinquency has been increasing at an alarming rate
and the nature of the crimes are becoming more serious. It not only affects the victims of crime,
perpetrators, and bystanders, but it may cause harm to families, neighbors, and teachers as well. Tarolla,
Wagner, Rabinowitz, and Tubman (2002; Allen & Bradley, 2015) concluded that juvenile delinquency is
one of societys most pressing problems; the social, emotional, and physical harm caused by delinquency
affect the entire community rather than just the individual. Committing delinquent acts during
adolescence is especially concerning, because it occurs during the formation of the individuals personality
and derives from a number of factors and has future repercussions on the internalization of social rules
and norms (Farrington, 1995; Tarolla et al., 2002; Allen & Bradley, 2015). These adolescents face unique
challenges and have specific needs while incarcerated and after they are released (Tarolla et al., 2002;
Allen & Bradley, 2015).
Juvenile delinquency is caused by psychological, societal, and economic factors. Examining the
effects of different risk factors advances the fundamental knowledge of the types of risk factors that
contribute most to life-course persistent offending behavior (Assink, van der Put, Hoeve, de Vries, Stams,
and Oort, 2015). More insight into this can also support the improvement and development of programs
aimed at the treatment or prevention of persistent delinquency. For effective implementation, predictive
factors need to be understood in the context of youths situations, goals, and ideas about pathways to jail
within their communities (Barnert, Perry, Azzi, Shetgiri, Ryan, Dudovitz, Chung, 2015). Therefore, this

study aims to examine the risk factors of juvenile delinquency, and how they may affect the youths
psychological and physiological development. It also aims to determine the proper therapy that would be
effective in the rehabilitation and the reinstatement of the individual in the society.
Risk factor is an attribute which may heighten the likeliness of an adolescent to display delinquent
behavior. In a study by (Assink et al., 2015)., 14 risk factors were identified to lead to delinquency among
the youth: criminal history, aggression, relationships, alcohol/drug abuse, emotional and behavioral
problems, school/employment, family, neurocognition/physiology, background, attitude, physical health,
neighborhood, and sexual behavior. In this research, the fourteen domains will be clustered into three
categories: psychological/physiological, social, and economical. `
In the psychological/physiological sub-domain, Sharma, Mishra, and Kumar (2013) concluded that
antisocial behavior may be attributed to an individuals personality, as delinquency is a manifestation of
underlying conflicts within the individuals psychological framework (p. 98). Adolescents, in particular,
resort to antisocial behavior as a defense mechanism against feelings of helplessness, threat of object
loss, and wish for passivity (Blos, 1963; Sharma et al., 2013). Antisocial behavior may also be induced by
an interaction between a persons neuropsychological impairments and a disadvantageous environment,
and may persist until an individuals adulthood (Assink et al., 2015).
Society also plays a factor in shaping a child's delinquent behavior. Barnert et al. (2015) stated
that incarcerated youths consider home, school and neighborhood as great factors in determining a
persons delinquent tendencies, as failure to satisfy the youths internal needs -- which have been
identified as love and attention, discipline and control, and role models and perspective -- increases the
likeliness of the youth to exhibit criminal behavior. This finding is further supported by a case study
conducted by Takaoka and Hazama (2013) which showed two cases of 15-year old boys charged with
murder who, prior to the offense, were shown to have a history of abuse and neglect by parents, and

bullying among peers. Aside from the three risk factors, ethnical minorities face a greater challenge due
to the higher police presence in neighborhoods composed of a minority race (Barnert et al., 2015).
Gallupe, Bouchard, and Davies (2015) attributed delinquent behavior to an adolescents desire to
elevate his/her social status, as delinquents are perceived as more fun (Rebellon and Manasse, 2004;
Gallupe et al., 2015, p. 443) than their conformist peers. Delinquent behavior also improved dating success
among adolescents and allowed juvenile delinquents to acquire an elite social status. It has to be noted,
however, that although the study included illicit (e.g. violence, substance use) and law-abiding delinquent
displays, it did not include heinous crimes such as manslaughter. Delinquent behavior was also found to
be manifested by adolescents in an attempt to address social pressures such as the desire to fulfill gender
roles in which boys are expected to exhibit a macho persona, and girls are inclined to aim for popularity
and please their partner (Barnert et al., 2015).
Poverty was also pointed out as one of the factors that promote criminal behavior. According to
Sharma et al., multiple studies in India show that juvenile delinquents belong to the bottom
socioeconomic strata (p. 98). Incarcerated youths identify financial difficulties as a factor for the reason
that they want to purchase items their families could not afford or help their parents with finances
(Barnert et al., 2015).
The first juvenile justice system that was created in Illinois in the year 1899 was due to the
developing aspect of juveniles especially in adults. This system produced the first child and adolescent
psychiatry clinic that was created to aid family courts in adjudication of ungovernable youth. The goal of
these courts was to help the youth restore healthy path of development. Thus, sentencing was not used
but only adjudication for the betterment of the youth. Society tried to reduce juvenile crimes with longer
confinement in detention facilities and in adult prisons with modest success. Imprisoned juveniles, after
released, have been knowledgeable to be better criminals as they have spent more time with the

experienced criminals that provide an unwanted fertile environment. Number of studies show that
delinquent behavior in the past is the best predictor for immoral behavior in the future (Bergseth &
Bouffard, 2012, as cited in May, Osmond & Billick, 2014).
One of the treatments is called Restorative Justice (RJ) which lies between punishment and
restoration. RJ aims to restore justice to the victim as well as the community. The victims are confronted
and the crimes committed by the delinquent are revisited. RJ therapy includes taking responsibility for
their wrong doings and teaches how to be held accountable. RJ focuses on the crime of the individual.
One said complaint about RJ is that it may not decrease delinquent recidivism for all offenders. Bergseth
and Bouffard (2012, as cited in May, Osmond, & Billick, 2014) stated that the younger the age of the
delinquents when referred and treated with RJ, the longer the time format will be before reoffending. RJ
may fail to produce change in the delinquents themselves who have committed more serious crimes.
However, RJ is better than detention based on research.
A study conducted on delinquent adolescent boys called SNAP (Stop Now, Act Later) had two
componentsthe transformer club and the SNAP meeting. The latter is a group therapy intended for the
parents of the adolescents and the former aims to help participants through group therapy process in
identifying their bad behavior and to help them manage their anger. SNAP program may cause damage at
some point as it can promote delinquency by putting the adolescents altogether during transformer club.
This program is conducted at the school of the delinquents. Interviews conducted with the family of
participants shows an overall improvement in anger management and social skills (May, Osmond &
Billick, 2014).
Another program, called Scared Straight, strives to prevent relapse. Through Scared Straight, they
expose the adolescents to the reality of life as a prison. The program hypothesized that by giving tours
and interactions with convicted felons, adolescents will lead a life free from criminal activity.

Unfortunately, these exposures appear to increase future criminal behaviors. Thus, it unsuccessfully
prevents future delinquency (May, Osmond & Billick, 2014).
In conclusion, the delinquent behavior displayed by the youth may be caused by various factors
psychologically, socially, and economically (Assink et al., 2015). These factors, along with the delinquent
behavior, may be addressed through treatment and rehabilitation programs such as the restorative justice
to somehow prevent or lessen the likeliness of the adolescent to display delinquent behavior. Upon
release, programs like Scared Straight are conducted aim to prevent relapse. Through restorative justice
and career development programs, specifically rehabilitation programs within prisons, these young
people will have the opportunity to redeem themselves from their past behavior (May, Osmond & Billick,
2014).

REFERENCES:
Allen, K., & Bradley, L. (2015). Career counseling with juvenile offenders: Effects of self-efficacy and
career maturity. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling, 36, 28-42.
Assink, M., van der Put, C., Hoeve, M., de Vries, S., Stams, G., & Oort, F. (2015). Risk factors for
persistent delinquent behavior among juveniles: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review,
42, 47-61.
Barnert, E., Perry, R., Azzi, V., Shetgiri, R., Ryan, G., Dudovitz, R., Chung, P. (2015). Incarcerated youths
perspectives on protective factors and risk factors for juvenile offending: A qualitative analysis.
American Journal of Public Health, 105, 1366-1371.
May, J., Osmond, K., & Billock, S. (2014). Juvenile delinquency treatment and prevention: A literature
review. Psychiatr Q, 85, 295-301.
Sharma, S., Mishra, D., & Kumar, R. (2013). Personality characteristic of Juvenile Delinquents as
Compared to non-delinquents on Rorscach test. SIS J. Proj. Psy. & Ment. Health, 20, 98-105.
Takaoka, K., & Hazama, K. (2013). Psychiatric/psychological evaluation of juvenile delinquents in Japan:
A personal view. International Medical Journal, 20, 183-185.
Gallupe, O., Bouchard, M., & Garth, D. (2015). Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice,
440-474.