Adolescents in conflict with the law: Sociodemographic analysis of a sample in social educational measure deprived of freedom

Abstract

This article presents sociodemographic characteristics of 83 adolescents in social-educational measure deprived of freedom, all of which are interns in a unit of the Social-Educational Assistance Foundation in the Porto Alegre metropolitan region. Using a semi-structured interview, we collected data on age, origin, education, family, substance use and clinical/legal history. The results indicate extreme vulnerability from 13 to 15 years of age, which is the age related to the initiation of drug and alcohol abuse for most of the participants who are users of these substances. Legal infractions involving weapons and armed robbery were preponderant, as well as failing/abandoning school, unawareness of family income and criminality among family and peers. It was observed the importance of the family and the adolescent’s potential during the process involving the implementation of social-educational measures. Moreover, it is of crucial importance the implementation of interdisciplinary action for the confrontation of serious antisocial behavior, involving different public policy sectors. Although this study provides specific data for the selected sample, it is relevant to point out that it is not possible to dissociate violence from health, therefore suggesting a number of aspects to be considered in psychosocial and social-educational action.

Key words: adolescents, antisocial behavior, social-educational measure, sociodemographical aspects.