ABSTRACT
This study explores the factors influencing crimes committed by children in conflict with the law (CICL) in Albay, focusing on offenses against persons, property, and chastity. It seeks to identify crime types, examine socio-economic, familial, and environmental influences, assess stakeholders’ awareness of intervention programs, and determine differences in awareness among key sectors. Employing a mixed-methods design, data were collected through surveys and interviews with representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine National Police (PNP), barangay councils, and the community. Results indicate a strong correlation between socio-economic challenges, unstable family environments, peer pressure, and the prevalence of certain offenses. Awareness of rehabilitation initiatives—such as counseling, livelihood and skills training, and community-based support—was generally moderate but varied significantly across the four respondent groups. These differences were attributed to varying degrees of involvement in CICL case management and program implementation. The study highlights the need for a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach that actively engages families and communities in prevention and rehabilitation efforts. Strengthening information dissemination, enhancing stakeholder coordination, and improving access to intervention services are essential to address root causes, promote rehabilitation effectiveness, and ensure the successful reintegration of CICL into society.
Keywords: Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), Crimes against persons, Crimes against property, Crimes against chastity, Socio-economic factors, Familial influences, Environmental influences, Peer influence, Rehabilitation programs, Counseling, Livelihood training, Skills training, Community-based interventions
INTRODUCTION
The rising incidence of crimes committed by Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in Albay remains a pressing social concern despite the protective and rehabilitative intent of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (RA 9344). Offenses range from petty theft and assault to robbery and drug-related violations, revealing gaps in law enforcement, child protection, and addressing deeper social, familial, and environmental causes. Globally, over half of the world’s children face interpersonal violence annually, with low- and middle-income countries struggling to implement effective, context-specific interventions due to resource constraints (Pundir et al., 2020).
Parental involvement plays a critical role in CICL rehabilitation, influenced by parental burden, attitudes, and family relationships, highlighting the need for holistic, family-centered approaches (Donato, 2025). The rise in juvenile crimes is also linked to the internet’s influence, making Restorative Justice and Diversion essential to protect children’s rights and foster positive behavior (Comparative Study, 2025). In the Philippines, RA 9344 outlines age-based criminal liability exemptions, intervention programs, and alternatives to confinement (Zyre, 2024), but implementation challenges persist, especially in provincial areas.
Supreme Court guidelines emphasize the need to assess minors’ discernment in criminal cases (SC, n.d.). Locally, juvenile delinquency in Albay—particularly in Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco—stems from factors such as mental health issues, poverty, peer influence, and family neglect, prompting proposed programs like “Harmony in Albay” for early intervention and community engagement (Padua, 2024). Local ordinances further mandate LGUs to establish diversion and rehabilitation programs (RA 9344; Municipal Ordinance No. 015-2021; Tabaco City Ordinance).
This study seeks to analyze the nature, patterns, and causes of CICL crimes in Albay to design a contextualized intervention program, aiming to reduce juvenile offenses and strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
FRAMEWORK
This study adopts the Integrated Developmental-Relational Strain and Control Theory (IDRSCT), a synthesized framework combining Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Agnew’s General Strain Theory, and Hirschi’s Social Control Theory to comprehensively explain juvenile delinquency among Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in Albay. Bronfenbrenner’s model emphasizes how layered environmental systems—from family and peers to societal and cultural forces—interact to influence behavior, while Agnew’s theory links delinquency to strains such as poverty, family loss, and exposure to abuse, which generate negative emotions and may lead to crime without proper coping mechanisms. Hirschi’s theory adds that weakened bonds to family, school, and community increase delinquency, whereas strong attachments, commitments, and involvement deter it. The integration of these perspectives highlights that CICL offending emerges from the interplay of environmental conditions, experienced stressors, and the strength of social bonds.
The study’s conceptual framework applies the CIPP model—Context, Input, Process, and Product—to evaluate factors influencing Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in Albay and guide the creation of a comprehensive intervention program. The Context phase identifies and categorizes crimes committed by CICL to establish the scope of juvenile delinquency. The Input phase examines personal, environmental, social, and economic risk factors through Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Agnew’s General Strain Theory. The Process phase assesses the awareness, accessibility, and effectiveness of existing intervention programs, guided by Hirschi’s Social Control Theory, using perspectives from social workers, families, and law enforcers. The Product phase integrates these findings to design a multi-sectoral intervention program based on the Integrated Developmental-Relational Strain and Control Theory (IDRSCT), aimed at reducing strains, strengthening social bonds, and promoting rehabilitation, with continuous monitoring and evaluation to ensure long-term impact and adaptability.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
This study aimed to comprehensively examine the nature, causes, and intervention programs related to crimes committed by Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in the province of Albay, with the end goal of proposing a comprehensive intervention program to reduce CICL cases in the region. Specifically, it sought to: (1) identify the crimes committed by CICL in Albay province in terms of crimes against persons, crimes against property, and crimes against chastity; (2) determine the contributing factors of crimes committed by CICL along with personal factors, environmental factors (demographic location), social factors (relationship with family and peers), and economic factors; (3) infer the significant relationship between crimes committed by CICL and the contributing factors; (4) assess the awareness of intervention programs for CICL along with counseling, education, skills training, recreational activities, community involvement, and family support; (5) infer the significant difference in the awareness of the three groups of respondents on the intervention program for CICL; and (6) propose a comprehensive intervention program to reduce CICL cases in the province of Albay.
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