Life is precious and we only live it once; however, what we do with it is to our own discretion and free will.

It is a disgrace, though, that nowadays, the youth decides to live a life of misdeeds and become what is now
called juvenile delinquents. Considerably speaking, these teens do not have the compatibility to rationalize
on the same levels as adults, triggering them to do such behaviors unconsciously accounting different
factors. Juvenile delinquency, the participation in illegal behavior by minors, is an issue that is a major
problem of the modern society nowadays. Young people are a crucial segment of society because they are
the basis for future development. They are social actors of change since the capacity to achieve radical
progress lies mainly on their palm.

In the Philippines today, the youth are not exempted from confronting such issues. Records of DSWD show
that of the thousands, 9,390 are male and only 704 are female. The severity and gravity of these delinquent
acts are generally determined by economic, social and cultural factors. Economic crises, political instability,
inconsistent system of major institutions and poverty, which is very common in the Philippines, are the
major roots of juvenile delinquency.

In chapter 1, we have learned multiple theories exist that help our understanding of the emergence,
development and trajectories of juvenile crime. We have discussed the supernatural theory, classical theory,
biological theory, psychoanalytic theory, behevioral theory, cultural deviance theory, social control theory,
labelling theory, and lastly, conflict theory. There are many other theories of juvenile delinquency stemming
from an array of academic disciplines. But the fields of economics, psychology, and sociology have been the
most visible disciplinary starting points for understanding why young people commit criminal acts.

Most importantly, family, peer, and the media also play a crucial role in the formation of the teen’s ethics. If
these social factors expose negative things, the teens would most likely turn to a juvenile delinquent. These
factors are responsible to the transition from childhood to adulthood.

First and foremost, family is the basic social institution which public policy cherishes and protects. It is