DOMINICAN COLLEGE OF TARLAC

COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION

Mcarthur Highway, Sto. Rosario, Capas, Tarlac, Tarlac Province

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE

DELINQUENCY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
CAPAS, TARLAC

By;
ESPIRITU, JOHNPERSON G.

Presented to:

Dr. Arsenio Novesteras

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Juvenile delinquency has become a pressing issue for communities worldwide, including

the Municipality of Capas, Tarlac in the Philippines. Defined as illegal or antisocial

behaviors committed by minors, juvenile delinquency often poses significant social,

economic, and legal challenges for communities (Siegel & Welsh, 2017). Understanding

the factors influencing juvenile delinquency in specific areas, such as Capas, is crucial for

developing targeted interventions that address the root causes and mitigate the prevalence

of youth crime.

Research on juvenile delinquency consistently points to a variety of factors that can shape

young people's likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. These factors are often

grouped into categories such as socio-economic conditions, family dynamics, peer

influence, educational opportunities, and community environment (Farrington, 2005). For

instance, low socio-economic status and poverty can increase exposure to stress and limit

access to resources, both of which may contribute to juvenile delinquency (Agnew,

2006). Furthermore, parental neglect or absence, domestic violence, and poor family

relationships are significant contributors to delinquent behavior among youth (McCord et

al., 2001). Peer influence and association with other delinquent youths can also play a

significant role, reinforcing deviant behaviors and creating a social environment that

normalizes delinquency (Warr, 2002).

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Capas, Tarlac, with its distinct socio-economic and cultural dynamics, presents a unique

setting for examining these factors. Like many rural-urban transitioning areas in the

Philippines, Capas has experienced socio-economic changes that may influence family

structures, community relationships, and youth behavior. Investigating the specific

factors affecting juvenile delinquency in Capas can thus provide a more localized

understanding and support initiatives tailored to the community’s needs.

This study aims to identify and analyze the various factors that contribute to juvenile

delinquency in Capas, Tarlac, with an emphasis on the socio-economic, familial, peer-

related, and community-based influences that shape youth behavior in this area. By

exploring these factors in the context of Capas, this research hopes to inform policy-

making and community interventions that promote positive youth development and

reduce the incidence of juvenile crime.

Statement of the Problem

The purpose of this study is to described the factors that affect juvenile

delinquency in The Municipality of Capas, Tarlac.

Specially, the study sought to answer the following:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondent in terms of:

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

1.1 Sex

1.2 Age

1.3 Civil Status

2. How are the following factor of juvenile delinquency in crime detection

described by the community?

2.1 Individual risk factor

2.2 Family

2.3 Environment

2.4 School

3. What programs do the Municipality of Capas, implement to mitigate the

factors affecting juvenile delinquency??

4. How effective are the programs implemented by the Municipality of

Capas to mitigate the factors affecting juvenile delinquency?

Significance of the Study

This study would be beneficial to the following:

The Teachers, by identifying the factors that contribute to adolescents being delinquent,

they will be able to provide more assistance to their students as well as to their family

members and other relatives about how to refrain from engaging in delinquent behavior.

The Police Officers, as part of their Community Relationship program, they would

learn what motivates youth to engage in delinquent acts and receive guidance on how to

organize seminars or symposiums for public awareness regarding Juvenile Delinquency.

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

With the help of the result of this study, prudence would enable law enforcers to address

both the causes and symptoms of criminal acts.

The Social Workers of Local Government, this would serve as a guide for them in

dealing with youth offenders, particularly in counseling and giving treatment for them,

in order to redirect their thinking for them not to commit delinquent acts.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, this would act as an addition

and help for the department that deals with difficulties and issues pertaining to juvenile

delinquency.

The Future Researchers, the findings of this study would become a good reference for

future researchers and would inspire them to examine deeper on the issues which are

related to this study.

Scope and Delimitation

The main purpose of this study is to provide information regarding youths with

delinquent acts. State the common factors why children commit misdeeds and how it

affects their lifestyle. The study will consider the respondent’s name (optional), station

unit and office location.

The researchers will limit the study to 20 police officers and 10 DSWD

employees in the Capas, 20 teachers, 20 barangay officials, having a total of 70

participants. Each respondent is given a questionnaire to answer.

Definition of Terms
FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Bail- is the assurance of appearance in court provided by the person in custody or by a

bondsman, for the release of the person in detention. A monetary deposit, property

bond, business security, or recognition may be used as forms of bail.

Best Interest of the Child- this refers to the totality of the circumstances and conditions

which are most congenial to the survival, protection and feelings of security of the child

and most encouraging to the child’s physical, psychological and emotional

development.

Child -this refers to a person under the age majority or under the age of eighteen (18)

years.

Child at Risk -this refers to a child who is vulnerable to and at the risk of committing

criminal offenses because of personal, family and social circumstances.

Child in Conflict with the Law -term describes a minor who is purportedly, charged

with, or found guilty of breaking a law in the Philippines.

Community-based Programs- this refers to programs that are community-based

designed to help children in dispute with the law get the help they need to be rehabilitated

and reintegrated into their immediate families, surroundings, and/or communities.

Court- this refers to a family court or any regional trial court in areas without family

courts.

Deprivation of Liberty -this refers to any type of custody or confinement, as well as the

placement of a minor in legal trouble in a public or private custodial setting, from which

the minor is not allowed to re-enter at any time without a judge or administrative

authority's permission.
FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Diversion -this is a substitute for formal court procedures and refers to a child-

appropriate, alternative method of deciding how to treat and allocate responsibility for a

child who is in trouble with the law based on the child's social, cultural, economic,

psychological, or educational background.

Diversion Program- this is the program that the legally troubled youngster must

participate in if they are found guilty of a crime without going through the normal court

system.

Initial Contact With-the Child -this is the process by which law enforcement officials

or private individuals apprehend or take possession of a minor who is in trouble with the

law.

Intervention -this refers to a series of activities which are designed to address issues

that caused the child to commit an offense. It may take the form of an individualized

treatment program which may include counseling, skills training, education, and other

activities that will enhance his/her psychological, emotional and psycho-social well-

being.

Juvenile Justice and Welfare System -this refers to a system dealing with children at

risk and children in conflict with the law, which provides child-appropriate proceedings,

including programs and services for prevention, diversion, rehabilitation, re-integration

and aftercare to ensure their normal growth and development.

Law Enforcement Officer -according to Article 152 of the Revised Penal Code, this

refers to the person in charge or his or her agent, which includes a barangay tanod.
FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Republic Act number 9344 -this “An Act Establishing a Comprehensive Juvenile

Justice and Welfare System, Creating the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council under

the Department of Justice, Appropriating Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes” or

otherwise known as the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006”.

Restorative Justice- this is a reference to a notion that calls for a dispute resolution

procedure that involves the victim, the offender, and the community as much as possible.

It aims to secure compensation for the victim, reconciliation between the offender and the

offended parties as well as the community, and assurance to the offender that

reintegration into society is possible. By including the victim, the criminal, and the

community in preventative measures, it also improves public safety.

Status Offenses -this is used to describe crimes that target children exclusively;

comparable activities by adults are not punishable. These will include things like truancy,

curfew infractions, and parental disobedience.

Bahay Pag-asa -this is a 24-hour child care facility that is owned, operated, and funded

by licensed and/or accredited nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local

government units (LGUs) that have received accreditation. It offers short-term

residential care for children in conflict with the law who are older than fifteen (15) but

younger than eighteen (18) years old and are awaiting court proceedings or transfer to

other agencies or jurisdiction.

Youth Rehabilitation Center -refers to a 24-hour residential care facility that offers

care, treatment, and rehabilitation services for children who are in legal trouble. It is run

by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), licensed and/or

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

recognized NGOs, and local government units under the supervision of the DSWD. The

goal of rehabilitation services is to care for residents in a structured therapeutic

environment under the supervision of professional staff members, with the ultimate goal

of reintegrating them into their families and communities as socially competent adults.

Residents of those institutes may have limited movement while their charges are being

resolved in court.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This review of related literature and studies cited in this chapter serve as a guide to the

reader. All the literature and study is connected to the present study

Related Studies

Family Structure and Parenting

Several studies have been conducted on the impact of the family on the delinquency of

the young people. For example, Hoeve et al. (2009) conducted a meta-analysis of

published studies of 161 in relation to juvenile delinquency and parenting styles. Results

The researchers obtained indicated that poor parenting, inconsistent with discipine, and

parentchild relations were significantly related to juvenile offending. On the other hand,

positive parenting practice such as warmth, involvement, and supportive parenting had

been known to serve protective functions in delinquency. Peer Influence and Social

Networks

Peer influence is one of the most important factors related to the prediction of juvenile

delinquency. Gardner and Steinberg, in a study about risk-taking behavior among

adolescents, found that the riskier the behavior, including criminal activity for which a
FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

teenager is drawn because of being in the company of peers. Adolescents seem to seek

social approval from peers. Such a status leads them towards conformity of delinquent

behaviors especially when they had delinquent peers.

Socioeconomic Status and Poverty

Low SES is known to be well-established with juvenile offending. Leventhal and Brooks-

Gunn (2000) attempted to find the relationship between neighborhood environments and

the children's behavior; they found that children who were dwelling in a poor

neighborhood were prone to showing delinquent behaviors. The research from the study

concluded that it is because the children are deprived of resources, engaged with criminal

activity, and in economic distress that leads to the juvenile offending .

Mental Health Disorders

Conduct disorder, depression, ADHD, and other mental health disorders have been

intricately linked with juvenile delinquency. In this regard, Teplin et al. conducted a

study on youth detained in juvenile detention centers. The results revealed that about 66

percent of the boys and 74 percent of the girls who were detained had met the criteria for

at least one mental health disorder. Such mental health disorders compound delinquent

behavior among youths and make reentry into society after detention extremely

challenging.

Drug Abuse

Hawkins et al. (1992) points out drug abuse as the major cause of juvenile delinquency.

According to their research, young abusers and drug and alcohol users are more likely to

commit a violent crime and have criminal networks. Mostly, drug abuse also correlates
FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

with other delinquency factors such as peer influences, poor academic performance, and

family instability.

School-Related Factors

Academic failure and truancy or school dropout are strong predictors of delinquency.

Henry et al. (2004) established that school disengagement, truancy, and academic

difficulties increase the probability of delinquent behavior. Adolescents who experience

recurrent academic failure are likely to drop from school, which places them in the

perilous position of exposure to the influence of delinquent peer groups and activities.

Neighborhood Environment

In 1989, Sampson and Groves introduced the social disorganization theory to explain the

impact that structures in neighborhoods have on juvenile delinquency. According to their

findings, communities are more prone to higher rates of juvenile delinquency due to

undermined social control mechanisms and scarce community resources due to

characteristics such as high residential mobility, poverty, and ethnic heterogeneity.

Cultural and Ethnic Factors

Studies by Choi et al. (2006) indicated that cultural and ethnic factors are more

pronounced in the juvenile delinquency rates. The multiracial youth study done within

the United States indicated that the minority youths faced racism, discriminatory

practices, and systemic inequality associated with their subsequent high delinquent

behavior. Their research interests were strongly emphasized on culturally sensitive

intervention programs to help

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Related Literature

Veselov & Chabanenko, 2019 researched the administrative-legal characterizations of

juvenile offenders while underlining the socio-psychological mechanisms that explain

their actions. The authors argue that understanding the personality traits of child

criminals will help in determining their guilt and guide proper legal action against the

young people. Such a justice approach should be about socialization and influencing legal

awareness among the young people.

Dollinger examines how narratives related to juvenile crime in Germany develop over the

course of several decades. Drawing on interviews and legislative debates, the author spell

out how youth crime as a concept comes to change implications for criminology,

sociology, and social work.

De Luna et al. (2020) Looks at the life experiences of children in conflict with the law,

specifically those in drug-related offenses in the Philippines. Gender-specific patterns

have been identified: lack of parental attachment for boys and for girls, an experience of

domestic violence as the dilemma they face. A gender-responsive framework is proposed

to develop interventions toward these problems by the authors.

Erdmann considers the overlap of victims and offenders among the young, using a

sample of teenagers to determine the influence of peer group dynamics on violent

behavior. Findings suggest that peer relationships and norms against delinquency

significantly impact victimization and offending, where strong emphasis on the context of

the peer group is involved.

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Mallett & Fukushima Tedor (2018) offers a far-reaching analysis on the path of youth

offending, raising crucial concerns related to family influence, trauma effects, mental

health impacts, and education-based experience. What is critical in the report is the

evidence of prevention and rehabilitation methods, which make for some critical thinking

regarding the practice of juvenile justice.

McCarthy & Adams (2023) provide insights for the impacts of incarceration on families.

Their perspective is limited to only the challenges observed in which the incarceration

occurs concerning parents of a young male teenager. Issues about issues of gender, race,

and family inequality are discussed concerning complexity in problems related to

imprisonment.

Nelson (2016) examines causative, preventive, and resultant factors of juvenile

delinquency, providing developmental theories and social influences that impact the

behavior of adolescents. Case studies and empirical bases for youth transitions and how

families support young offenders are provided in the text.

In analyzing the current situation of crime on the part of youths and gang activity in the

Philippines, Gahar (2020) identified the contributory factors to the crimes. Among them

are antisocial behavior, lousy parenting, and antisocial behavior. The rationale that needs

discussing is in terms of legislative actions being undertaken. It also focuses on

community-based intervention and restorative justice in addressing the issues.uce

delinquency within the minority communities.

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Chapter 2

METHODS OF STUDY AND SOURCES OF DATA

This chapter indicates the research methodologies used, the study’s locale, data

collection methods, research tools or Instruments, and statistical treatments required for

data collection.

Research Design

The research design utilized was descriptive research. Descriptive research is known as

survey research, and it aims to systematically obtain information to describe a

phenomenon, situation, or population. More specifically, it helps answer the what, when,

where, and how questions regarding the research problem rather than the why. (Dovetail

2023). Also, by observing and collecting data on a given topic, descriptive research helps

researchers gain a deeper understanding of a specific issue and provides valuable insights

that can inform future studies. (Sirisilla 2023).

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

This study shows the factors affecting juvenile delinquency in our country, specifically

Tarlac city. The researcher knew that this method is applicable to use, for it describes and

analysis the gathered data through survey and facts collected. The researcher's passion it

to give adequate prevention of expanding cases of juvenile delinquency in the

Philippines.

Locale of the Study

The study, which is scheduled to take place in the first semester of the academic year

2024-2025, would be carried out specifically in selected members of the PNP, DSWD,

Barangay Officials, Teacher, located in the Municipality of Capas, Tarlac.

Participants of the Study

The respondent of the study includes insight form 20 police officer and. 10 employee

from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Capas, Tarlac, 20 Teacher's

from selected around Capas, 20 barangay official that will be selected around Capas, and

A total of 70 Participants.

Instrumentation and Data Collection

This study utilized a survey was adapted and modified the questionnaire research model.

The researcher would be using the questionnaire. The questionnaire is a set of orderly

arranged questions carefully prepared to answer by a group of people designed to collect

facts and information. The first part of the questionnaire is we collect some information

about the respondent. The second part is the questions to be answered by the respondent.

We used Likert Scale Method in the survey questionnaire to specify the level of

agreement of the respondents of the statement.

FACTORS AFFECTING JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

Data Gathering Procedure

This research is to be conducted to the Capas, Tarlac, through questionnaire checklist.

Before answering the questionnaire, the researcher explains to the respondent the

important of the study and tell that they answer the questionnaire with their full

knowledge and answer responsibly. After answering the said questionnaire, the

researcher should collect the questionnaire to the respondent and tabulates the result.

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