Juveniles in Conflict with the Law: Risk Factors and Preventive Approaches

Abstract

Between 50% and 75% of juveniles in conflict with the law have at least one psychiatric disorder. Commonly observed disorders include conduct disorder, substance use disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety. These conditions—often characterized by impulsivity and difficulties in emotional regulation—reinforce tendencies toward criminal behavior Antisocial personality traits typically emerge in childhood through impulsivity and oppositional behaviors. ADHD and emotional dysregulation may initially manifest as oppositional defiant disorder and later develop into conduct disorder, with approximately 40–60% of conduct disorder cases progressing to antisocial personality disorders. In early adulthood, prosocial roles such as marriage, employment, military service, and parenthood, alongside cognitive maturation and social support, facilitate desistance from crime. Preventive strategies include early interventions such as the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) and the Incredible Years, high-quality early childhood education, executive function training, and home-visitation services. School-based initiatives to prevent peer bullying, implement mentorship programs, community-based support networks, and rehabilitation-oriented reforms in the juvenile justice system are also critical. These approaches aim to prevent the long-term adverse trajectories of juveniles in conflict with the law through multidimensional interventions tailored to individual needs at the family, school, peer, and community levels. This review aims to present research findings on the prevalence of mental disorders among juveniles in conflict with the law, the development of antisocial personality traits, related theories, and lifelong trajectories, with the goal of proposing methods that can be implemented to prevent involvement in crime.

Keywords

• child
• crime
• prevention
• risk

Suça Sürüklenen Çocuklar: Risk Faktörleri ve Önleyici Yaklaşımlar

Öz

Suça sürüklenen çocukların %50-75’inde en az bir psikiyatrik bozukluk bulunmaktadır. Davranım bozukluğu, alkol/madde kullanım bozukluğu, dikkat eksikliği hiperaktivite bozukluğu (DEHB), depresyon ve anksiyete suça sürüklenen çocuklarda sık görülür. Bu bozukluklar, impulsivite ve emosyon regülasyon zorluklarıyla suç eğilimini pekiştirir. Antisosyal kişilik özellikleri çocuklukta dürtüsellik ve zıtlaşma ile başlarken, DEHB ve emosyon regülasyon sorunları karşıt olma karşı gelme bozukluğu, ardından davranım bozukluğuna dönüşebilir; yaklaşık %40-60 davranım bozukluğu vakası ileride antisosyal kişilik bozukluğuna ilerler. Erken erişkinlikte evlilik, istihdam, askerlik ve ebeveynlik gibi bağlayıcı roller, bilişsel olgunlaşma ve sosyal destekler, suçtan uzaklaşmayı sağlamaktadır. Önleme programları; Triple P ve Incredible Years gibi erken müdahale, kaliteli erken çocukluk eğitimi, yürütücü işlev destekleri ve ev ziyaretleri; okul temelli akran zorbalığı önleme ve mentorluk uygulamaları; toplum temelli destek ağları, adli sistemde rehabilitasyon odaklı reformlarını içerir. Bu yaklaşımlar, aile, okul, akran ve toplum düzeyinde çok boyutlu ve bireysel ihtiyaçlara göre planlanan müdahalelerle suça sürüklenen çocukların uzun vadeli olumsuz gidişatını engellemeyi hedefler. Bu gözden geçirmede suça sürüklenen çocuklarda ruhsal bozuklukların yaygınlığı, antisosyal kişilik özellikleri gelişimi, ilgili kuramlar ve yaşam boyu gidişatla ilgili araştırma bulguları verilerek, suça sürüklenmeyi önlemek için uygulanabilecek yöntemlerin sunulması amaçlanmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• çocuk
• suç
• önleme
• risk

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