I. GENERAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES CONCERNING 2.

NEUROTIC- one who has internalized conflicts and is

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY preoccupied with his own feelings.
3. ASOCIAL-one whose delinquent acts have a cold, brutal
A. DEFINITIONS and vicious quality for which the youth feels no remorse.
JUVENILE- A child or a young person, who, under the legal 4. ACCIDENTAL-one who is essentially sociable and law-
system may be dealt with for an offense in a manner abiding but happens to be at the wrong time and place
different from that of an adult. Persons below the age of and becomes involved in delinquent acts not typical of his
majority, that is, below eighteen years old. general behavior.
DELINQUENT- One whose behavior has brought him into
repeated conflict with the law regardless whether he has
been taken before a court and adjudged a delinquent. III. THEORIES AND APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF JUVENILE
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY- An anti-social acts or behavior of DELINQUENCY
children which deviate from the normal pattern of rules and A. THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQENCY
regulations, custom and culture which society does not 1. CHOICE THEORY- It is based on the classical school of
accept and which therefore justify some kind of criminology that views an individual as having free will in
admonition, punishment or corrective measures in the choosing his actions and that he calculates what he will
public interest gain or lose if he commits an act. It viewed that delinquents
are motivated offenders who break the law because they
An anti-social behavior or act which does not conform with perceive an abundance of benefits and an absence of
the standards of society threat.
Youth behavior which is against the norms and regulations 2. TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-
of society; if left unchecked would give rise to criminality. It Postulated that both thought and behavior have biological
describes a large number of disapproved behavior of and social bases. It is a contemporary explanation of the
children or youth. biogenic approach.

Before the twentieth century, little distinction was made Biosocial

between n adult and juvenile offenders. However, due to 1) BIOCHEMICAL - Views that crime and delinquency,
the international consciousness of the problems of youth, especially violence, are the result of diet, vitamin intake,
the concept “juvenile delinquency” emerged which was hormonal imbalance and other biological causes.
derived from, and operated under the philosophy of 2) NEUROLOGICAL- Explains that crime and delinquency
PARENS PATRIAE (literally, the state is the father). This occur because the individual suffers from brain impairment
doctrine views minors who engage in extralegal behavior as or abnormality in the structure of the brain.
victims of improper care, custody, and treatment at home. Learning disabilities such as attention deficit/hyperactive
Illegal behavior is a sign that the state should step in and disorder and minimum brain dysfunction are related to
take control of the youth before they commit more serious antisocial behavior.
crimes. The state, through its juvenile authorities, should act 3) GENETIC- Explains that delinquent traits and predisposition
in the best interests of the child. to criminality are inherited from parents. Criminality of
parents can predict delinquency of children.
B. STATUS OFFENSES 4) EVOLUTIONARY- As a human race evolved, traits and
Certain acts or omissions which may not be punishable characteristics have become ingrained. Some of these
socially or legally if committed by adults but become anti- traits make people aggressive and predisposed to commit
social or illegal because the offender is a minor, such as: crime.
1. Truancy, or frequent, unreasonable absenteeism from Psychological
school (PD 798) Viewed that delinquency is a result of emotional and
2. Uttering of profane language mental disturbance of the individual. It is a contemporary
3. Running away from home explanation of psychogenic approach.
4. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages 1) PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY- Based on the
5. Disobedience to parents, guardians or school officials psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud which states that
6. Mendicancy or begging in the streets delinquency is a result of the imbalance of the three
7. Association with delinquent gangs components of personality: id, ego and superego.
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR- Characterized by Delinquency is the product of the abnormal personality
disobedience to, or disrespect for, authorities. structure formed in early life and which thereafter controls
human behavior choices.
2) BEHAVIORAL THEORY- Individuals learn by observing
II. TYPOLOGY OF DELINQUENCY AND DELINQUENT YOUTH how people react to their behavior. Delinquent behavior is
A. TYPES OF DELIQUENCY reinforced by some positive reaction, and is extinguished if
1. ENVIRONMENTAL- characterized by occasional law- punished. Misbehavior of children if left unchecked will
breaking. persist until adulthood.
2. EMOTIONAL MALADJUSTMENT- characterized by chronic 3) COGNITIVE THEORY - Delinquency is a result of the
law-breaking, a habit which a person cannot avoid. faulty perception and analysis of data by an individual. It
3. PSYCHIATRIC- characterized by serious emotional suggests that when an individual make decisions, he
disturbances within an individual, and in some cases engages in a sequence of cognitive thought processes: first
associated with mental illness. encodes the information so that it can be interpreted;
search for a proper response and decide upon the most
B. TYPES OF DELINQUENT YOUTH appropriate action; and acts on his decision
1. SOCIAL- an aggressive youth who resents authority or
anyone who makes an effort to control his behavior.
Delinquency-prone adolescents may have cognitive 2. HOME AND FAMILY
defects and perceive information incorrectly when they The home is first basic social institution responsible for
make decisions developing a child’s potential in all aspects of life such
physical, emotional, spiritual, moral, intellectual and social.
3. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES- Delinquency is a product of It molds the child to learn to curb his desires and to accept
various social factors and dynamics. It has three sub- rules that define the time, place and circumstances under
theories, namely: social structure, social process and social which highly personal needs may be satisfied in a socially
conflict. acceptable ways.

1) SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES- Delinquency is a function of TYPES OF FAMILY STRUCTURE

a person’s place in the economic structure. a. NUCLEAR FAMILY- consists of father, mother and children
2) SOCIAL PROCESS THEORIES- Delinquency Is a result of poor b. EXTENDED FAMILY- consists of father, mother, children,
or faulty socialization or upbringing. grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, nephews and
3) SOCIAL CONFLICT THEORIES- Delinquent behavior is a nieces, and in-laws.
product of economic inequality. c. BLENDED FAMILY-family that includes children of a
previous marriage of one spouse or both.
B. APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF DELINQUENCY
1. BIOGENIC APPROACH- Explains that law violations Ideally, a home and family must have the following:
and delinquency are a result of some physical defects 1) Structural completeness- presence of both father and
2. PSYCHOGENIC APPROACH- Argues that the critical mother
factors in delinquency are personality problems to which 2) Economic security- capability to provide for the basic
misbehavior is presumed to be the response needs and wants
3. SOCIOGENIC APPROACH- Attributes delinquency 3) Cultural conformity- typical family beliefs and
pattern to social structures. It that views youthful misdeed is practices
a result of a learning process through interactions with other 4) Moral conformity- moral uprightness.
members of society 5) Physical and psychological normalcy
6) Emotional adequacy- affection, support, love and care
between members
IV. BEHAVIORAL DISORDER AND SOCIAL INSTITTUTIONS AS 7) Religious homogeneity- both parents profess the same
CONTRIBUTIRY FACTORS TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY religion
8) Functional adequacy among members of the family
RISK FACTORS- condition, characteristic or variable that Basic needs of children:
increases the likelihood that a child will become delinquent. 1) Economic security
2) Affectional security
A. CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO ITS NATURE 3) Recognition
1. PREDISPOSING FACTOR – Inherited propensities that 4) Status
cannot be considered a criminal one unless there is a Factors in the home life that may cause
probability that a crime will be committed. delinquency:
2. PRECIPITATING FACTOR – Elements which provoke crime 1) Faulty development of the child
or factors that are signified to the everyday adjustments of 2) Lack of parental guidance
an individual. 3) Parental rejection
4) Broken homes
B. CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO BASIC DOMAINS 5) Lack of love
1. INDIVIDUAL 6) Unfair treatment
a. Early antisocial behavior and onset of aggression 7) Too harsh discipline by either or both parents
b. Conduct disorders, mental illness, other mental health 8) Too much leniency by either or both parents
issues 9) Unfavorable parental example
c. Developmental disabilities and disorders 10) Conflict of culture
d. Emotional factors (such as high behavioral activation and 11) Failure to socialize with the child
low behavioral inhibition) 12) Emotional tensions at home
e. Poor refusal skills 13) Failure to provide sympathy and understanding
f. Hyperactivity and ADHD Confidential relationships
g. Cognitive and neurological deficits and disorders 14) Injury of the status of the child in the community
h. Low intelligence and mental retardation
i. Lack of guilt and empathy 3. SCHOOL
j. Chronic medical and/or physical conditions Considered the second home of a child, with teachers as
k. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoking, drugs, alcohol or the second parents. It is an institution responsible for the
HIV training of young person’s intellectual, moral, as well as
l. Favorable attitude toward drug use and early onset of social skills which they need for them to grow up as
alcohol productive, law-abiding and responsible citizens.
m. Gun possession Early sexual involvement or teen School Factors for Juvenile Delinquency
parenthood 1) Truancy [absence without cause for more than 20 school
n. Exposure to media violence days not necessarily consecutive]
o. Victimization 2) Dropping out of school
3) Low bonding and school attachment
4) Low academic aspirations or commitment to school
5) Low academic achievement
6) Identified as learning disabled
7) Negative labeling by teachers
8) Inadequate school climate (poorly organized and
functioning schools)
9) Low parent college expectations for child
10) Frequent school transitions
11) School suspensions

4. PEER
1) Peer rejection
2) Peer alcohol, tobacco and/or other drug use
3) Association with delinquent and/or aggressive peers
4) Gang involvement and membership

5. COMMUNITY
The culture, norms and behavior of the child’s surroundings
may very well influence the upbringing of the child
especially during their formative years and such
misbehavior learned is likely to be carried on until the child’s
maturity. The following are factors present in the community
that may influence to the child’s delinquency:
1) Availability of alcohol and other drugs
2) Availability of firearms or other weapons
3) High-crime neighborhood
4) Community instability and disorganization
5) Social and physical discord
6) Living in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood
with high poverty
7) Safety concerns and feeling unsafe in the neighborhood
8) Low community attachment
9) Neighborhood youth in trouble

6. MEDIA
Print Media
1) Advertisement of crimes
2) Glorification of criminal leaders
3) Trial by publicity
4) Providing public panic
5) Giving advance information concerning the plans of the
police against the criminals
Broadcast (Audio or Video) Media
1) Arousing desires for easy luxury and suggesting
questionable method of achievements
2) Displaying of crime techniques and criminal pattern
3) Inducing the spirit of bravado, toughness and
adventurousness
4) Arousing intense sexual drive
5) Invoking daydreaming of criminal role
6) Instilling the desire for luxury and smart appearance
7) Depicting various form of crime readily imitated by girls
and young women

7. DEPARTMENTS/AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT

1) Political interference of higher officials
2) Unfair decisions of the court
3) Police carelessness and unfair treatment