Patterns of Delinquent Behavior in the Brazilian Youth Justice System

Abstract: Bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and professional practice remains challenging in studies on offending behavior. This research, grounded in the Social and Personal Control Theory of Deviant Behavior, aimed to identify different levels of severity of engagement in offending behavior to support the development of evaluation parameters for adolescent offenders. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 158 male adolescents (aged 12 to 19) serving legal measures in two regions of Brazil. Severity indicators, descriptive statistics, latent class analysis, and qualitative exploration of the variables were employed. The results revealed three distinct groups with varying levels of severity of engagement in offending conduct, consistent with existing literature. The findings highlight the need for specific guidelines for professional care and suggest the possibility of a fourth class comprising abstinent adolescents or those with minimal offenses, characteristic of the school-aged adolescent population.