The Psychology of Children Pushed into Crime: What Do the Child and Family Go Through Afterwards?

The psychology of children pushed into crime continues after the event. Data on shame, labelling, preventing repetition, the family's role and support.

One evening there is a knock at the door, or the phone rings: "Your son is at the police station." From that moment on, time moves differently for the family. Fear, anger, shame and the question "where did we go wrong?" arrive all at once. The child, meanwhile, often withdraws into deep silence or swells with anger before fully understanding what has happened. The psychology of children pushed into crime is usually discussed in terms of the incident itself; yet what really makes the difference is what happens afterwards. According to sources reporting TÜİK's (the Turkish Statistical Institute's) 2025 Statistics on Children Brought to or Arriving at Security Units, the number of incidents in which children were brought to security units in Turkey because they had been pushed into crime was 196,308. In this article I focus on what the figures say, on risk and protective factors and, above all, on the psychological process the child and family go through after the incident. My aim is not to label any child or family, but to offer guidance to families going through a difficult period.

Children Pushed into Crime and the Psychological Process: What Do the Figures Say?

"Child pushed into crime" (suça sürüklenen çocuk) is the legal term used in Turkey for children under 18 who are subject to proceedings on the allegation that they have committed an offence. The term has been chosen deliberately: it emphasises that the child has often been "pushed" along by circumstances, relationships and risks. A significant share of these children are also children at risk.

Turkey as a whole. According to sources reporting TÜİK data, the number of incidents in which children were brought to or arrived at security units because they had been pushed into crime was 178,834 in 2023, 202,785 in 2024 and 196,308 in 2025. In 2025, around 72 per cent of these incidents involved the 15–17 age group. Of the offences attributed to children pushed into crime, 41.6 per cent were assault and 9.7 per cent related to drugs or stimulants.

Çorum and the region. Up-to-date provincial data for Çorum could not be obtained. According to Özcan's (2021) thesis, based on TÜİK's provincial tables, in 2017 there were 868 incidents in Çorum in which children were brought to security units because they had been pushed into crime. This corresponds to roughly 6.7 per thousand of the child population; a rough calculation for Turkey gives around 4.7 per thousand. However, neighbouring provinces are in the same band: Samsun 6.9, Tokat 6.6 and Amasya 6.2 per thousand. In other words, the picture appears regional rather than specific to Çorum.

Repetition is an important issue. According to the same study, in 2017 in Çorum, 88.5 per cent of children brought in on drug-related allegations and 71.2 per cent of those brought in on theft allegations had been brought to security units more than once for the same type of offence. This shows how critical the support and monitoring that follow the first contact are.

School is still a point of contact. In 2017, the largest group among children pushed into crime in Çorum were high school students (377). This shows that children who have dropped out of school are not the only group at risk, and that school is a natural point of contact for prevention and support.

The mental health dimension. In a study of 189 children pushed into crime who were assessed at a university hospital between 2014 and 2018 (Yıldız et al., 2019), at least one psychiatric disorder was identified in 72.5 per cent of the children; yet only 8.5 per cent were under regular follow-up.

What should you keep in mind when reading these data?

• TÜİK data count incidents, not individual children. The same child may be counted more than once within a year.
• The figures for Çorum relate to 2017; more recent provincial data could not be found in a verified source.
• The rates are rough calculations; the numerator and denominator may use different definitions.
• Hospital samples reflect the children brought in for assessment; they cannot be generalised to all children pushed into crime.
• The figures should be read not to declare a region or a group "problematic", but to see where support is needed.

Why Is a Child Pushed into Crime? Risk and Protective Factors

No child is pushed into crime for a single reason. A review of 64 studies carried out in Turkey between 1980 and 2020 (Aslan, 2021) shows that neglect, abuse, poverty and family breakdown are among the important factors.

In a study carried out with 341 teachers in Çorum (Bektaş, 2022), the risk factors most strongly endorsed by teachers were:

• absenteeism and dropping out of school (77.1 per cent)
• harmful substance use (73.6 per cent)
• parental attitudes and family cohesion (69.2 per cent)
• working on the streets (64.5 per cent)

In the same study, the great majority of teachers found early identification and monitoring measures effective.

Protective factors are at least as important as risk factors. The research literature counts attachment to school, a warm but boundary-setting relationship with parents, parents knowing where and with whom their child is, and cooperation between school, the school counselling service and the family among the strongest protective factors.

A developmental perspective also offers hope. According to Moffitt's (1993) widely accepted distinction, most rule-breaking behaviour seen in adolescence is "adolescence-limited" and decreases markedly in adulthood. In a smaller group, problems begin in early childhood and persist; early and intensive support matters most for these children. In other words, an incident is not a fate that determines a child's future.

After the Incident: How Does the Psychology of Children Pushed into Crime Unfold?

The period after the incident is a time of crisis for both the child and the family. What happens during this period can determine whether the child turns to risky behaviour again or is able to recover.

Shock, fear and denial

The first encounter with the police and the legal process is frightening for most children. Some children hide this fear behind an "I don't care" attitude. This appearance of indifference is often a defence; intense anxiety may lie beneath it.

Shame and guilt

Guilt is the feeling "I did something bad" and can lead towards making amends. Shame is the feeling "I am bad" and often leads to hiding, anger and disconnection. Helping the child take responsibility for their behaviour without belittling who they are preserves this distinction.

Labelling

Being referred to in the neighbourhood, at school or among relatives as "that child" can lead the child to see themselves in the same way. Labelling theory emphasises that a negative identity imposed from outside can sustain risky behaviour. When a child begins to think "everyone sees me like this anyway", their motivation to change decreases.

The pull of the peer group

For an adolescent who has drifted away from their family and school and feels ashamed, a peer group that does not judge them can be very attractive. If this group shares risky behaviour, the likelihood of repetition increases. Substance use is also an important risk in this process; I discussed the early signs and what families can do in my article on substance use in adolescents.

Overlooked mental health symptoms

The hospital study cited above shows that a significant share of children pushed into crime may have undiagnosed mental health difficulties. International reviews also report that, alongside conduct problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression are common among these young people, and that depression and post-traumatic symptoms are more common in girls. Angry outbursts, impulsivity or withdrawal are often outward expressions of these difficulties.

Stories intertwined with victimisation

In Çorum's 2017 data, the number of incidents in which children came to security units as victims (1,702) was roughly twice the number of incidents involving children pushed into crime. The research literature shows that some children who have experienced victimisation may later turn to risky behaviour. For this reason, possible traumatic experiences the child has been through should always be taken into account in the assessment after the incident.

What the family goes through

During this process, parents may swing between guilt, anger, shame and helplessness. Siblings may feel neglected, and partners may blame each other. How the family copes with these feelings directly affects the quality of support it can offer the child.

Practical Suggestions for Families After the Incident

Let's say a sixteen-year-old has been taken to a security unit for the first time for getting involved in a fight. His family wants both to punish him and to protect him. In such a period, the following steps can offer guidance:

• Calm down first, then talk. Reactions in the first hours are often shaped by anger. Having the conversation once some time has passed, without blame and ready to listen, is more productive.
• Separate the behaviour from the child. There is a big difference between saying "what you did is unacceptable" and "you are a bad child". The first leads to responsibility, the second to shame.
• Plan responsibility together. Finding concrete ways for the child to repair the harm done (an apology, making amends, complying with obligations) turns guilt in a constructive direction.
• Make boundaries clear without breaking the relationship. Clear rules about coming-home times, friendships and pocket money are needed; but it is also important to make the child feel that love and attention will continue.
• Work with the school. Meeting the school counselling service, protecting the child's attachment to school and preventing dropout are among the strongest protective steps.
• Use official support. The protective and supportive measures provided for under the Child Protection Law (Çocuk Koruma Kanunu), such as counselling, education and health measures, as well as social service centres and school counselling services, are important resources for the family. In Çorum, social service centres attached to the Ministry of Family and Social Services operate in the provincial centre and in İskilip, Sungurlu, Alaca and Osmancık.
• Get support for yourself too. A parent's resilience is one of the cornerstones of a child's recovery.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?

A mental health assessment is beneficial for every child who has experienced being pushed into crime. In particular, do not delay in the following situations:

• If the child continues to have intense angry outbursts, impulsivity or aggression
• If there is prolonged withdrawal, changes in sleep and appetite, or expressions of hopelessness
• If there are signs of substance use
• If the child has stopped going to school or there is a sudden drop in school performance
• If traumatic experiences such as abuse, violence or neglect are suspected in the past
• If risky behaviour is being repeated
• If the child talks about thoughts of harming themselves or ending their life

A risk of self-harm is an emergency; in such a situation, call 112 (emergency services) immediately or go to the nearest emergency department. Where necessary, an assessment by a child and adolescent psychiatrist should also be requested.

How Do We Work in Therapy with Children Pushed into Crime and Their Families?

In this area, therapy is more effective when carried out not only with the child but together with the system the child lives in.

Within cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), work is done on anger management, impulse control, problem-solving and the ability to say "no" to peer pressure. The child's thoughts, such as "everyone thinks I'm a criminal anyway" or "nobody will ever trust me", are identified and more realistic alternatives are developed.

If there are traumatic experiences, trauma-focused approaches become part of the process. The schema therapy perspective can help us understand the emotional needs underlying risky behaviour, particularly in young people who grew up in an insecure or emotionally deprived environment.

In family sessions, work is done with parents on consistent boundary-setting, monitoring, warm communication and noticing and reinforcing positive behaviour. Cooperation with the school and other institutions weaves a support network around the child. In adolescent counselling with young people, the aim is to help the young person believe that they can rewrite their story. I also work in Çorum with face-to-face and online sessions. I will look separately at regional data on this topic and the risk factors before an incident in my article on children pushed into crime in Çorum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "child pushed into crime" mean?

It is a legal term describing children under 18 who are subject to investigation or prosecution on the allegation that they have committed an offence. Rather than declaring the child a criminal, the term emphasises that they are a child in need of protection and support.

Do most children pushed into crime go on to offend later in life?

No. Developmental research shows that most rule-breaking behaviour seen in adolescence decreases markedly in adulthood. Support after the incident, attachment to school and a strengthened family relationship are among the most important factors that reduce the risk of repetition.

My child is acting as if nothing happened after the incident; is this normal?

Appearing indifferent is often a way of coping with fear and shame. There may be intense anxiety beneath this attitude. Inviting the child to talk in a safe setting, without pressuring them but also without ignoring the subject, and getting support from a professional if needed, is helpful.

Should I, as a parent, get support too?

Yes, this is often very helpful. A parent being able to cope with guilt, anger and anxiety makes it easier to offer the child consistent and calm support. Parent sessions are also an opportunity to strengthen boundary-setting and communication skills.

• #children pushed into crime
• #adolescent mental health
• #rehabilitation
• #family support

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Eda Erkan Alapala

Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.

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