Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System

Maruschi, Maria Cristina; Estevão, Ruth; Pasian, Sonia Regina

doi:10.1590/1982-4327e3513

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Psychological Evaluation • Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto) 35 • 2025 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-4327e3513 linkcopy

Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System

Padrões de Conduta Infracional em Adolescentes no Sistema Socioeducativo Brasileiro

Patrones de Conducta Delictiva en Adolescentes del Sistema Socioeducativo Brasileño

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

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.

Keywords:
psychological assessment; antisocial behavior; juvenile delinquency; forensic psychology

Variable	Quartile	Group of adolescents			H	p
Variable	Quartile	G1 ( n = 77)	G2 ( n = 39)	G3 ( n = 42)	H	p
Volume	1 (1-12)	37 (48.1%)	4 (10.3%)	-	74.959	<0.001
	2 (13-88)	19 (24.7%)	13 (33.3%)	6 (14.3%)
	3 (89-201)	21 (27.3%)	18 (46.2%)	3 (7.1%)
	4 (>201)	-	4 (10.3%)	33 (78.6%)
Diversity	1 (1-2)	69 (89.6%)	-	3 (7.1%)	116.949	<0.001
	2 (3)	6 (7.8%)	23 (59.0%)	-
	3 (4)	-	16 (41.0%)	9 (21.4%)
	4 (>4)	2 (2.6%)	-	30 (71.4%)
Age at onset	1 (8-12)	7 (9.1%)	4 (10.3%)	25 (59.5%)	58.149	<0.001
	2 (13-14)	24 (31.2%)	23 (59.0%)	17 (40.5%)
	3 (15)	15 (19.5%)	11 (28.2%)	-
	4 (16-18)	31 (40.3%)	1 (2.6%)	-

Variables		Group of adolescents			Statistical Comparison
Variables		G1 ( n = 77)	G2 ( n = 39)	G3 ( n = 42)	Groups	χ2	p
Violence history	Absent	40 (51.9%)	16 (41.0%)	11 (26.1%)	1-2	1.24	0.266
					1-3	7.36	0.007**
	Present	37 (48.1%)	23 (58.9%)	31 (73.8%)	2-3	2.00	0.157
Accomplices with police records	Absent	26 (33.7%)	11 (28.2%)	1 (2.4%)	1-2	0.37	0.544
					1-3	15.26	<0.001***
	Present	51 (66.2%)	28 (71.8%)	41 (97.6%)	2-3	10.69	0.001***
Planning	Absent	31 (40.2%)	8 (20.5%)	3 (7.1%)	1-2	4.52	0.033*
					1-3	14.61	<0.001***
	Present	46 (59.7%)	31 (79.5%)	39 (92.9%)	2-3	3.08	0.079
Use of instruments	Absent	50 (64.9%)	16 (41.1%)	8 (19.0%)	1-2	6.03	0.014**
					1-3	22.90	<0.001***
	Present	27 (35.1%)	23 (58.9%)	34 (80.9%)	2-3	4.69	0.030*
Destruction of objects	Absent	72 (93.5%)	31 (79.5%)	19 (45.2%)	1-2	5.11	0.024*
					1-3	35.19	<0.001***
	Present	5 (6.5%)	8 (20.5%)	23 (54.8%)	2-3	10.04	0.002**
Alcohol or drug intoxication	Absent	68 (88.3%)	29 (74.3%)	28 (66.7%)	1-2	3.68	0.055
					1-3	8.17	0.004**
	Present	9 (11.7%)	10 (25.6%)	14 (33.3%)	2-3	0.57	0.449
Utilitarian motivation	Absent	20 (25.9%)	4 (10.2%)	-	1-2	3.90	0.048*
					1-3	13.11	<0.001***
	Present	57 (74.0%)	35 (89.7%)	42 (100%)	2-3	4.53	0.033*
Absence of tension	Absent	39 (50.6%)	15 (38.5%)	8 (19.0%)	1-2	1.55	0.214
					1-3	11.36	<0.001***
	Present	38 (49.3%)	24 (61.5%)	34 (80.9%)	2-3	3.75	0.053*
Insufficient feeling of guilt	Absent	34 (44.1%)	6 (15.4%)	2 (4.8%)	1-2	9.49	0.002**
					1-3	19.99	<0.001***
	Present	43 (55.8%)	33 (84.6%)	40 (95.2%)	2-3	2.56	0.109
Antisocial Peers	Absent	59 (76.6%)	25 (64.1%)	19 (45.2%)	1-2	2.032	0.154
					1-3	11.85	<0.001***
	Present	18 (23.4%)	14 (35.9%)	23 (54.8%)	2-3	2.90	0.089

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Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia Av.Bandeirantes 3900 - Monte Alegre, 14040-901 , Tel.: (55 16) 3315-3829 - Ribeirão Preto - SP - Brazil
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[1] Nota:*p < 0.05. **p < 0.01. ***p < 0.001.