Assessing an age-graded theory of informal social control: A qualitative study exploring pathways to youth incarceration in Turkey.

摘要

The juvenile delinquency problem in Turkey has become increasingly visible in the last decade. Although there are some studies to explain juvenile delinquency, existing research on Turkish youth convicted of delinquency is still in its early stages. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the life course of convicted juveniles, including the experiences and life course events that lead them to prison.;Based on the data from in-depth interviews with thirty convicted juveniles in juvenile prison, this study focused on and described the context of the juveniles and the peer influences, which had a major effect on juveniles' trajectories. It also considered how several factors, such as low socioeconomic status of the family, father's alcohol use, family moves, disrupted education, drug use, low attachment to the family, harsh discipline, and lack of supervision affected juveniles' lives. Finally, it examined the short-term effects of the prison experience on youth. It provided a broad multi-level explanation by exploring youth's contextualized experiences that led them to engage in crime. The findings suggest that it is essential to implement family oriented interventions, drug treatments, identity reorientation, and mentoring programs to help youth.