Social determinants, which encourage the criminal desistance in young people in conflict with the law

Abstract

IntroductionPrevious studies about young people in conflict with the law (YPCL) have a tendency to focus on the risk factors that contribute to trigger antisocial criminal behavior. Instead, this study aims to research the social determinants that encourage the criminal desistance: understood as a gradual process taking place in the periods of absence of crime and desire to abandon the criminal activity.ObjectivesFrom a sample that is made up of 100 YPCL, the main objective is to deduce the social determinants, which encourage the criminal desistance in YPCL, it means young people who commit crimes.AimsTo infer the social determinants (circumstances in which people are born, grow, live, including the health system) which foster the desistance in YPCL.MethodsThe results of a sample of 100 YPCL were assessed with three profiles as follows: I: DSM-IV personality disorders (PD T-Scores). II: swap personality syndromes (Q-Factor T-Scores). III. factor T-scores.ResultsThis research shows the prevalence of the following social determinants associated with the desistance: (1) integrated families. (2) Educational and cultural opportunities (3) academic progress. (4) Healthy relationships that support and help. (5) Stable living arrangements (6) social conditions preserved the use of psychoactive substances and alcohol abuse.ConclusionsIt is possible to identify the prevalence of social determinants which encourage the desistance in YPCL. Those allows them to transform their risk path in another that shows a positive development, associated with individual transformations that take them away from the criminal life and reintegrate into the community.