The juvenile criminal justice system and its impact on the psychosocial factors of adolescent offenders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18250532Keywords:
Juvenile criminal justice system, recidivism, psychosocial factors, mental health, adolescent identity, systematic reviewAbstract
The Juvenile Criminal Justice System (JCJS) in Latin America is grounded in the principle of comprehensive protection, aimed at guaranteeing the development and social reintegration of adolescents in conflict with the law. However, numerous studies indicate that juvenile institutionalization generates adverse psychosocial impacts, particularly on mental health, identity construction, self-esteem, and social adjustment. This study presents a systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines, based on a literature search in the Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and Redalyc databases, covering the period 2015–2025. A total of 48 studies addressing the psychosocial impact of the Juvenile Criminal Justice System, with special emphasis on recidivism, were selected and analyzed. The findings show that dehumanizing institutional practices, discontinuity in psychosocial care, and structural stigmatization contribute to the consolidation of criminalized identities and the persistence of offending behaviors. In addition, limitations of traditional punitive approaches in promoting effective social reintegration are identified. From an interdisciplinary perspective, theoretical implications drawn from developmental psychology, critical criminology, and restorative justice are discussed. Finally, the study highlights the need to reorient the Juvenile Criminal Justice System toward community-based, restorative, and emotionally safe models focused on adolescents’ holistic well-being and social inclusion across diverse Latin American contexts.
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