Demoralization and Juvenile Delinquency

• In Event: Diversion, assessment and pre-trial decision making in juvenile justice systems

Abstract

The phenomenon of juvenile delinquency is automatically associated with the demoralization of minors. However, the author's considerations aim to demonstrate that these two categories exist independently. The commission of punishable acts by offenders between the ages of 13 and 17 does not necessarily, and often is not, conditioned by demoralization. The determinants of juvenile delinquency include the degree of individual development, environmental influences, and susceptibility to peer pressure. Identifying the genesis and impulse behind the commission of a punishable act in a given case is of paramount importance in selecting appropriate educational and rehabilitative measures for the juvenile offender.

Author

• Borys Laskowski, Akademia Wymiaru Sprawiedliwości