Theorizing Participation within the Juvenile Delinquency Discourse: A Critical Systemic Analysis on Children in Conflict With the Law in Davao City

Abstract

Despite the existence of juvenile justice and rehabilitation programs, Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) continue to experience unmet needs, limited participation, and systemic disadvantages while undergoing rehabilitation. This study theorizes participation within the juvenile delinquency discourse through a critical systemic analysis of CICL in Davao City, Philippines. Using a qualitative critical ethnographic design, data were gathered from 17 CICL residents of Children’s Village Bahay Pag-asa, five parents, and one psychologist through interviews, focus group discussions, demographic profiling, and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that CICL experiences are shaped by intersecting deprivations, including gangsterism, absence of parental care, school disengagement, drug use, poverty, and adverse community environments. While rehabilitation services exist, participants reported unmet health, nutritional, psychological, educational, and skills-training needs, compounded by overcrowding, limited personnel, and weak participatory mechanisms. The study proposes a child-centered, rights-based, restorative, and multidisciplinary social planning system that strengthens case management, family engagement, education, psychosocial care, livelihood preparation, and community reintegration.