Rehabilitation Approaches for Juvenile Offenders: Theoretical Foundations, Intervention Models, and Policy Implications for Türkiye

Öz

Juvenile delinquency remains a major global social problem, while justice systems continue to balance the goals of individual rehabilitation and public safety. This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on rehabilitation approaches for juvenile delinquency from theoretical, empirical, and policy perspectives. The study was conducted in accordance with PRISMA-ScR (PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. A systematic search of the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and ULAKBİM/TR Dizin databases identified 540 records. Following duplicate removal and application of inclusion criteria, 44 empirical studies were included in the narrative synthesis. In addition, foundational criminological theories as well as national and international legal and policy documents were incorporated to strengthen the theoretical framework.

The findings indicate that developmental psychopathology, social learning theory, ecological systems theory, General Strain Theory, Social Control Theory, the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) model, and life-course criminology provide important theoretical explanations for juvenile offending. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), multisystemic therapy (MST), family-based interventions, diversion programs, and restorative justice practices were found to significantly reduce recidivism rates among juvenile offenders. Meta-analytic evidence suggests that well-structured rehabilitation programs can reduce reoffending rates by approximately 10–30%. Interventions containing cognitive components demonstrated stronger effect sizes, whereas treatment fidelity, staff qualifications, and individualized risk assessment emerged as critical determinants of program effectiveness. In contrast, purely punitive and surveillance-oriented approaches were associated with limited or even negative outcomes.

Within the Turkish context, despite substantial legal reforms, the juvenile justice system continues to face structural deficiencies regarding evidence-based rehabilitation programs, standardized risk assessment tools, and multidisciplinary coordination. In this regard, the integration of the RNR model into the existing system, the reinforcement of community-based rehabilitation, the wider implementation of restorative justice practices, and the expansion of training programmes for specialist staff are presented as key policy recommendations.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• juvenile delinquency
• rehabilitation
• restorative justice
• juvenile justice system
• recidivism
• cognitive-behavioral therapy

Destekleyen Kurum

None.

Etik Beyan

This study does not need a ethical approval.

Teşekkür

None.

Çocuk Suçluluğunda Rehabilitasyon Yaklaşımları: Kuramsal Temeller, Müdahale Modelleri ve Türkiye için Politika Önerileri

Öz

Çocuk suçluluğu, küresel ölçekte önemli bir toplumsal sorun olmaya devam etmekte; adalet sistemleri bireysel rehabilitasyon ile toplumsal güvenlik hedefleri arasında denge kurmaya çalışmaktadır. Bu çalışma, çocuk suçluluğunda rehabilitasyon yaklaşımlarını ele alan mevcut kanıt tabanını metodolojik çeşitliliğiyle haritalandırmayı amaçlayan bir kapsam belirleme incelemesidir (scoping review). Sistematik tarama sonucunda dahil etme kriterlerini karşılayan toplam 44 çalışma (meta-analizler, sistematik derlemeler ve destekleyici primer araştırmalar) senteze dahil edilmiştir. Çalışma PRISMA-ScR (PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews) yönergelerine uygun biçimde yürütülmüştür. Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, Google Scholar ve ULAKBİM/TR Dizin veri tabanlarında gerçekleştirilen sistematik tarama sonucunda toplam 540 kayda ulaşılmış; yinelenen kayıtların çıkarılması ve dahil etme kriterlerinin uygulanmasının ardından 44 ampirik çalışma betimsel senteze (narrative synthesis) dahil edilmiştir. Ayrıca çalışmanın kuramsal altyapısını güçlendirmek amacıyla temel kriminoloji kaynakları ile ulusal ve uluslararası mevzuat belgelerinden ve raporlardan yararlanılmıştır.

Bulgular; gelişimsel psikopatoloji, sosyal öğrenme kuramı, ekolojik sistemler yaklaşımı, Genel Gerilim Kuramı, Sosyal Kontrol Kuramı, Risk-İhtiyaç-Yanıt Verebilirlik (RİYV) modeli ve yaşam seyri kriminolojisinin çocuk suçluluğunu açıklamada önemli kuramsal çerçeveler sunduğunu göstermektedir. Bilişsel-davranışçı terapi (BDT), çok sistemli terapi (ÇST), aile temelli müdahaleler, yönlendirme programları ve onarıcı adalet uygulamalarının yeniden suç işleme oranlarını anlamlı düzeyde azalttığı belirlenmiştir. Meta-analitik bulgular, iyi yapılandırılmış rehabilitasyon programlarının yeniden suç işlemeyi yaklaşık %10–30 oranında azaltabildiğini göstermektedir. Özellikle bilişsel bileşen içeren müdahalelerin daha güçlü etki büyüklükleri sergilediği; program etkinliğinin ise uygulama bütünlüğü (treatment fidelity), uzman personel niteliği ve bireyselleştirilmiş risk değerlendirmesiyle yakından ilişkili olduğu saptanmıştır. Buna karşılık yalnızca cezalandırıcı ve yoğun gözetim odaklı yaklaşımların sınırlı veya olumsuz sonuçlar doğurabildiği görülmüştür.

Türkiye bağlamında değerlendirildiğinde, çocuk adalet sisteminin önemli hukuki reformlara rağmen kanıta dayalı rehabilitasyon programları, standart risk değerlendirme araçları ve multidisipliner koordinasyon bakımından yapısal eksiklikler taşıdığı anlaşılmaktadır. Bu doğrultuda RİYV modelinin sisteme entegrasyonu, toplum temelli rehabilitasyonun güçlendirilmesi, onarıcı adalet uygulamalarının yaygınlaştırılması ve uzman personel eğitimlerinin artırılması temel politika önerileri olarak sunulmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• çocuk suçluluğu
• rehabilitasyon
• onarıcı adalet
• çocuk adalet sistemi
• yeniden suç işleme
• bilişsel davranışçı terapi

Destekleyen Kurum

Yoktur.

Etik Beyan

Çalışma için etik kurul izni alınması gerekli değildir.

Teşekkür

Yoktur.

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