Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System

Abstract: Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and professional practice remains challenging in studies on offending behavior. This research, grounded in the Social and Personal Control Theory of Deviant Behavior, aimed to identify different levels of severity of engagement in offending beh...

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Main Authors: Maria Cristina Maruschi, Ruth Estevão, Sonia Regina Pasian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2025-08-01
Series:Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto)
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-863X2025000100601&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Maria Cristina Maruschi
Ruth Estevão
Sonia Regina Pasian
author_facet Maria Cristina Maruschi
Ruth Estevão
Sonia Regina Pasian
author_sort Maria Cristina Maruschi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and professional practice remains challenging in studies on offending behavior. This research, grounded in the Social and Personal Control Theory of Deviant Behavior, aimed to identify different levels of severity of engagement in offending behavior to support the development of evaluation parameters for adolescent offenders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 158 male adolescents (aged 12 to 19) serving legal measures in two regions of Brazil. Severity indicators, descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and qualitative exploration of the variables were employed. The results revealed three distinct groups with varying levels of severity of engagement in offending conduct, consistent with existing literature. The findings highlight the need for specific guidelines for professional care and suggest the possibility of a fourth class comprising abstinent adolescents or those with minimal offenses, characteristic of the school-aged adolescent population.
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series Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto)
spelling doaj-art-5f9cb7c13c9e4a67b2ad9721ddf008c72025-08-20T03:41:50ZengUniversidade de São PauloPaidéia (Ribeirão Preto)1982-43272025-08-013510.1590/1982-4327e3513Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice SystemMaria Cristina Maruschihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5946-3905Ruth Estevãohttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-1441-9558Sonia Regina Pasianhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2811-6625Abstract: Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and professional practice remains challenging in studies on offending behavior. This research, grounded in the Social and Personal Control Theory of Deviant Behavior, aimed to identify different levels of severity of engagement in offending behavior to support the development of evaluation parameters for adolescent offenders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 158 male adolescents (aged 12 to 19) serving legal measures in two regions of Brazil. Severity indicators, descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and qualitative exploration of the variables were employed. The results revealed three distinct groups with varying levels of severity of engagement in offending conduct, consistent with existing literature. The findings highlight the need for specific guidelines for professional care and suggest the possibility of a fourth class comprising abstinent adolescents or those with minimal offenses, characteristic of the school-aged adolescent population.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-863X2025000100601&lng=en&tlng=enpsychological assessmentantisocial behaviorjuvenile delinquencyforensic psychology
spellingShingle Maria Cristina Maruschi
Ruth Estevão
Sonia Regina Pasian
Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto)
psychological assessment
antisocial behavior
juvenile delinquency
forensic psychology
title Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
title_full Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
title_fullStr Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
title_short Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System
title_sort patterns of delinquent behavior in the brazilian youth justice system
topic psychological assessment
antisocial behavior
juvenile delinquency
forensic psychology
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-863X2025000100601&lng=en&tlng=en
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