The impact of negative school experiences on rates of youth delinquency: accounts of incarcerated young people in Türkiye

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe main purpose of this study is to examine the school experiences of incarcerated Turkish young delinquents and reveal how these negative experiences affected their descent into delinquency. In order to carry out the study, official permission to meet with 10 young delinquents, currently being held in the Youth Detention Centre in Ankara (capital of Türkiye) and convicted of various crimes, has been obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Justice. Interviews have been conducted in three separate sessions. Study findings have revealed that the school experiences of young delinquents have been overwhelmingly negative and that they have started committing crimes while still being enrolled in school. Additionally, it has been found that they defied school rules and maintained social connections with individuals engaged in unlawful activities.