A Qualitative Inquiry into the Determinants of Criminal Involvement Among Children in Conflict with the Law in Koronadal City, Philippines

The study focused on determining the lived experiences of the CICLs before they committed a crime, and their reason in committing the crimes they are facing. The Key Informant Interview (KII) was conducted to the CICLs committed at Bahay Pag-asa in Koronadal City with the 14 CICLs, a social worker in charge, and Bahay Pag-asa In-Charge as participants. Despite the existence of RA 9344 and community-based interventions, there remains a lack of in-depth qualitative understanding of the personal and social circumstances that push CICLs into criminal involvement, particularly within the context of Koronadal City. The data gathered were subjected to a thematic analysis following the Clarke and Braun’s Thematic Analysis (2006). The results revealed that CICLs before they committed juvenile crimes were children who came from broken families, raised by grandparents, or their parents were not involved anymore with their lives, leaving them to live on their own with no proper supervision, emotional support, or moral guidance. These children became at risk and committed crimes, thereby subjecting them to the procedures of the Juvenile Justice System pursuant to RA 9344. The participants revealed that reasons for committing crimes at early age were peer influence, lack of family support and guidance, personal choice, and economic pressures. Given these factors, it was recommended that the BCPC in the community should be strengthened focusing not only on CICLs, but also to Children at Risk.