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A first-of-its-kind study in Türkiye has revealed how family breakdown, school dropout, and social environment play a decisive role in pushing children into crime.
The research was conducted on 607 children aged 12 to 18 who had either been detained or convicted. It was carried out by social workers and psychologists from the Justice Ministry on behalf of a parliamentary commission investigating juvenile delinquency.
The findings were presented during a meeting chaired by ruling AK Party lawmaker Muserref Pervin Tuba Durgut, with data shared by Prof. Dr. Toker Erguder from the Presidential Health Policy Board.
The data shows a strong link between lack of education and involvement in crime.
More than half of the children, 51 percent, had dropped out of school, while 47.9 percent had never attended school at all, according to Hurriyet. At the same time, 87.1 percent had worked at least one job before entering prison.
Researchers identified a clear pattern. Leaving school and entering the workforce at an early age significantly increases the risk of being drawn into criminal activity.
The study also highlights how the absence of stable role models contributes to this process. Among children who dropped out of school, 76.1 percent reported a lack of role models within their family.
The research points to the role of family conditions and exposure to harmful behaviors.
A large majority of the children reported substance use. Smoking rates reached 83.4 percent, while 52.9 percent had used addictive substances, and 47.3 percent reported alcohol use.
The risk increases further when substance use exists within the family. If a family member uses drugs daily, the child’s likelihood of drug use rises to 70.7 percent.
Family and social surroundings also influence criminal involvement. If a family member has committed a crime, the rate of children becoming involved reaches 43 percent. This rises to 60.6 percent when such behavior exists in their wider social environment.
Violence and instability at home are also widespread. The study found that 81 percent of the children had experienced domestic violence, while 37 percent had run away from home at least once.
In addition, 15 percent reported being excluded or bullied by peers.
As part of the study, children were asked a direct question: “What would have prevented you from committing a crime?”
Their answers focused on family stability, education, and social support.
Some said, “If my father had not died,” or “If my mother had not remarried.” Others referred to abuse, saying, “If the man she married had not beaten me.”
Education also appeared as a recurring theme.
Several children said they would not have committed a crime if they had attended school or succeeded in their studies. Others pointed to their social circles, saying a healthier group of friends could have changed their path.
Only 16 percent of the children said they felt happy in their family or social environment before entering prison.
Experts involved in the study stress that the findings point to broader structural problems.
Prof. Dr. Betul Ulukol from Ankara University noted that 27.8 percent of the children had internalized their problems. She said that with proper rehabilitation, many of them are unlikely to return to prison.
Commission chair Durgut emphasized that children are not inherently prone to crime. She said they are exposed to risks early in life and often lack sufficient protection.
“These children are not born inclined to crime. They have encountered risks at an early age and have not been protected enough,” she said.
Sociologist Prof. Dr. Baris Erdogan also warned against focusing only on punishment. He said structural issues such as family conditions, economic hardship, and lack of future prospects must be addressed.
“Punishing these children individually may ease public conscience for a while, but it does not solve the underlying problem,” he said.
The findings underline a key conclusion. Preventing child crime requires early intervention through education, family support, and social policies, rather than relying solely on the justice system.
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