I. GENERAL CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES CONCERNING
NEUROTIC- one who has internalized conflicts and is
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
A. DEFINITIONS
JUVENILE- A child or a young person, who, under the legal
system may be dealt with for an offense in a manner
different from that of an adult. Persons below the age of
majority, that is, below eighteen years old.
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.
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY- An anti-social acts or behavior of
children which deviate from the normal pattern of rules and
regulations, custom and culture which society does not
accept and which therefore justify some kind of
admonition, punishment or corrective measures in the
public interest
An anti-social behavior or act which does not conform with
the standards of society
Youth behavior which is against the norms and regulations
of society; if left unchecked would give rise to criminality. It
describes a large number of disapproved behavior of
children or youth.
Before the twentieth century, little distinction was made
between n adult and juvenile offenders. However, due to
the international consciousness of the problems of youth,
the concept “juvenile delinquency” emerged which was
derived from, and operated under the philosophy of
PARENS PATRIAE (literally, the state is the father). This
doctrine views minors who engage in extralegal behavior as
victims of improper care, custody, and treatment at home.
Illegal behavior is a sign that the state should step in and
take control of the youth before they commit more serious
crimes. The state, through its juvenile authorities, should act
in the best interests of the child.
B. STATUS OFFENSES
Certain acts or omissions which may not be punishable
socially or legally if committed by adults but become anti-
social or illegal because the offender is a minor, such as:
1. Truancy, or frequent, unreasonable absenteeism from
school (PD 798)
2. Uttering of profane language
3. Running away from home
4. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
5. Disobedience to parents, guardians or school officials
6. Mendicancy or begging in the streets
7. Association with delinquent gangs
ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR- Characterized by
disobedience to, or disrespect for, authorities.
II. TYPOLOGY OF DELINQUENCY AND DELINQUENT YOUTH
A. TYPES OF DELIQUENCY
1. ENVIRONMENTAL- characterized by occasional law-
breaking.
2. EMOTIONAL MALADJUSTMENT- characterized by chronic
law-breaking, a habit which a person cannot avoid.
3. PSYCHIATRIC- characterized by serious emotional
disturbances within an individual, and in some cases
associated with mental illness.
B. TYPES OF DELINQUENT YOUTH
1. SOCIAL- an aggressive youth who resents authority or
anyone who makes an effort to control his behavior.
2.
preoccupied with his own feelings.
3. ASOCIAL-one whose delinquent acts have a cold, brutal
and vicious quality for which the youth feels no remorse.
4. ACCIDENTAL-one who is essentially sociable and law-
abiding but happens to be at the wrong time and place
and becomes involved in delinquent acts not typical of his
general behavior.
III. THEORIES AND APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF JUVENILE
DELINQUENCY
A. THEORIES OF JUVENILE DELINQENCY
1. CHOICE THEORY- It is based on the classical school of
criminology that views an individual as having free will in
choosing his actions and that he calculates what he will
gain or lose if he commits an act. It viewed that delinquents
are motivated offenders who break the law because they
perceive an abundance of benefits and an absence of
threat.
2. TRAIT THEORIES: BIOSOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-
Postulated that both thought and behavior have biological
and social bases. It is a contemporary explanation of the
biogenic approach.
Biosocial
1) BIOCHEMICAL - Views that crime and delinquency,
especially violence, are the result of diet, vitamin intake,
hormonal imbalance and other biological causes.
2) NEUROLOGICAL- Explains that crime and delinquency
occur because the individual suffers from brain impairment
or abnormality in the structure of the brain.
Learning disabilities such as attention deficit/hyperactive
disorder and minimum brain dysfunction are related to
antisocial behavior.
3) GENETIC- Explains that delinquent traits and predisposition
to criminality are inherited from parents. Criminality of
parents can predict delinquency of children.
4) EVOLUTIONARY- As a human race evolved, traits and
characteristics have become ingrained. Some of these
traits make people aggressive and predisposed to commit
crime.
Psychological
Viewed that delinquency is a result of emotional and
mental disturbance of the individual. It is a contemporary
explanation of psychogenic approach.
1) PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY- Based on the
psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freud which states that
delinquency is a result of the imbalance of the three
components of personality: id, ego and superego.
Delinquency is the product of the abnormal personality
structure formed in early life and which thereafter controls
human behavior choices.
2) BEHAVIORAL THEORY- Individuals learn by observing
how people react to their behavior. Delinquent behavior is
reinforced by some positive reaction, and is extinguished if
punished. Misbehavior of children if left unchecked will
persist until adulthood.
3) COGNITIVE THEORY - Delinquency is a result of the
faulty perception and analysis of data by an individual. It
suggests that when an individual make decisions, he
engages in a sequence of cognitive thought processes: first
encodes the information so that it can be interpreted;
search for a proper response and decide upon the most
appropriate action; and acts on his decision
Delinquency-prone adolescents may have cognitive
defects and perceive information incorrectly when they
make decisions
3. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES- Delinquency is a product of
various social factors and dynamics. It has three sub-
theories, namely: social structure, social process and social
conflict.
1) SOCIAL STRUCTURE THEORIES- Delinquency is a function of
a person’s place in the economic structure.
2) SOCIAL PROCESS THEORIES- Delinquency Is a result of poor
or faulty socialization or upbringing.
3) SOCIAL CONFLICT THEORIES- Delinquent behavior is a
product of economic inequality.
B. APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF DELINQUENCY
1. BIOGENIC APPROACH- Explains that law violations
and delinquency are a result of some physical defects
2. PSYCHOGENIC APPROACH- Argues that the critical
factors in delinquency are personality problems to which
misbehavior is presumed to be the response
3. SOCIOGENIC APPROACH- Attributes delinquency
pattern to social structures. It that views youthful misdeed is
a result of a learning process through interactions with other
members of society
IV. BEHAVIORAL DISORDER AND SOCIAL INSTITTUTIONS AS
CONTRIBUTIRY FACTORS TO JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
RISK FACTORS- condition, characteristic or variable that
increases the likelihood that a child will become delinquent.
A. CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO ITS NATURE
1. PREDISPOSING FACTOR – Inherited propensities that
cannot be considered a criminal one unless there is a
probability that a crime will be committed.
2. PRECIPITATING FACTOR – Elements which provoke crime
or factors that are signified to the everyday adjustments of
an individual.
B. CATEGORIES ACCORDING TO BASIC DOMAINS
1. INDIVIDUAL
a. Early antisocial behavior and onset of aggression
b. Conduct disorders, mental illness, other mental health
issues
c. Developmental disabilities and disorders
d. Emotional factors (such as high behavioral activation and
low behavioral inhibition)
e. Poor refusal skills
f. Hyperactivity and ADHD
g. Cognitive and neurological deficits and disorders
h. Low intelligence and mental retardation
i. Lack of guilt and empathy
j. Chronic medical and/or physical conditions
k. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoking, drugs, alcohol or
HIV
l. Favorable attitude toward drug use and early onset of
alcohol
m. Gun possession Early sexual involvement or teen
parenthood
n. Exposure to media violence
o. Victimization
2. HOME AND FAMILY
The home is first basic social institution responsible for
developing a child’s potential in all aspects of life such
physical, emotional, spiritual, moral, intellectual and social.
It molds the child to learn to curb his desires and to accept
rules that define the time, place and circumstances under
which highly personal needs may be satisfied in a socially
acceptable ways.
TYPES OF FAMILY STRUCTURE
a. NUCLEAR FAMILY- consists of father, mother and children
b. EXTENDED FAMILY- consists of father, mother, children,
grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, nephews and
nieces, and in-laws.
c. BLENDED FAMILY-family that includes children of a
previous marriage of one spouse or both.
Ideally, a home and family must have the following:
1) Structural completeness- presence of both father and
mother
2) Economic security- capability to provide for the basic
needs and wants
3) Cultural conformity- typical family beliefs and
practices
4) Moral conformity- moral uprightness.
5) Physical and psychological normalcy
6) Emotional adequacy- affection, support, love and care
between members
7) Religious homogeneity- both parents profess the same
religion
8) Functional adequacy among members of the family
Basic needs of children:
1) Economic security
2) Affectional security
3) Recognition
4) Status
Factors in the home life that may cause
delinquency:
1) Faulty development of the child
2) Lack of parental guidance
3) Parental rejection
4) Broken homes
5) Lack of love
6) Unfair treatment
7) Too harsh discipline by either or both parents
8) Too much leniency by either or both parents
9) Unfavorable parental example
10) Conflict of culture
11) Failure to socialize with the child
12) Emotional tensions at home
13) Failure to provide sympathy and understanding
Confidential relationships
14) Injury of the status of the child in the community
3. SCHOOL
Considered the second home of a child, with teachers as
the second parents. It is an institution responsible for the
training of young person’s intellectual, moral, as well as
social skills which they need for them to grow up as
productive, law-abiding and responsible citizens.
School Factors for Juvenile Delinquency
1) Truancy [absence without cause for more than 20 school
days not necessarily consecutive]
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