Girls Drawn into Crime: What Do the Çorum Figures Say?

Why should girls drawn into crime be looked at separately? Çorum data, risks intertwined with victimisation, protective factors and support for families.

When children and crime are discussed together, most people think of boys. The statistics largely confirm this perception: most children who come to, or are brought to, the security units because they have been drawn into crime are boys. But this picture can overshadow a smaller group that deserves attention in its own right. According to a master's thesis based on TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data (Özcan, 2021), in 2017 13.7% of incidents in Çorum in which children came to or were brought to the security units for being drawn into crime involved girls. Girls drawn into crime are often at the same time children at risk, and sometimes victims too. In this article we aim to read the data without stigma, to look at what is particular about the risks girls face, and to set out protective steps for families and schools.

First, a note on language: "child drawn into crime" (suça sürüklenen çocuk) is a legal term in Turkey and was chosen deliberately. The expression is a reminder of the role that circumstances, adults and life experiences play in a child facing an allegation of crime. In this article, too, we take care to use language that protects children rather than labelling them.

Girls Drawn into Crime: What Do the Çorum Figures Say?

Detailed provincial data for Çorum come from Özcan's (2021) study, which reports TÜİK's Statistics on Children Who Came to or Were Brought to Security Units for the period 2008–2017. The key findings are:

• Incidents in 2017 involving children who came or were brought because they were drawn into crime: 868. Of these, 749 involved boys and 119 involved girls.
• The share of girls: 13.7%. In the TR83 region, which covers Samsun, Tokat, Çorum and Amasya, this was second only to Amasya (16.0%).
• Relative to the child population: The ratio of incidents of being drawn into crime to the 0–17 population was about 6.7 per thousand in Çorum; a rough calculation for Turkey gives about 4.7 per thousand. However, neighbouring provinces are in the same band (Samsun 6.9, Tokat 6.6, Amasya 6.2 per thousand). So the picture is regional rather than specific to Çorum.
• Children who came as victims: 1,702 incidents in 2017, roughly twice the number of those drawn into crime. This number may also be affected by reporting and recording practices; it can be read as much as "more applications and records" as "more violence".

Across Turkey, according to TÜİK's 2025 data, the number of incidents in which children came to or were brought to security units for being drawn into crime was 196,308; around 72% of these were in the 15–17 age group.

The limits of the data

When reading these figures, it is important to know some key limits:

• The number of incidents is not the number of children. The same child may be counted more than once in a year.
• No current data for Çorum could be found. Because TÜİK's provincial tables after 2018 could not be accessed, the most recent provincial data we have are from 2017.
• Small numbers fluctuate. With a number as small as 119, the repeated arrival of a few children can noticeably change the ratio.
• The national share of girls could not be verified in this study, so we do not make a direct national comparison.
• These data are a sign of a trend; they say nothing about individual children or families.

A Sociological Reading: Why Should Risk Be Looked at as a Whole?

A review of 64 studies carried out in Turkey between 1980 and 2020 (Aslan, 2021) lists the common factors among children drawn into crime as follows: financial hardship, low parental education, neglect and abuse, and family difficulties such as poverty and divorce. Recommended measures include a positive parent-child relationship, skills-based education programmes and effective rehabilitation.

A study with 341 teachers in Çorum (Bektaş, 2022) paints a similar picture. The factors teachers saw as the greatest risks were:

• absenteeism and dropping out of school (77.1%)
• use of harmful substances (73.6%)
• parental attitudes and family unity (69.2%)
• working on the street (64.5%)

Although these factors are common to girls and boys, some of them may work differently for girls. The international literature shows that, for girls, being drawn into crime and victimisation are often intertwined, and that traumatic experiences may play a more marked role. This is why monitoring the share of girls in Çorum separately matters, not as a matter of "crime" but as a matter of "protection".

The nature of allegations is also changing. According to Özcan's (2021) data, the share of theft among economically motivated allegations in Çorum fell from 81.5% in 2008 to 49.1% in 2017, while the share of allegations relating to damage to property and substances increased. These data are not broken down by gender; but the general trend suggests that risks linked to impulsivity, peer groups and substances have come to the fore, rather than material need. These risks affect girls too.

Changes in the child population should not be overlooked either. Between 2008 and 2017, the 0–17 population of Çorum fell by around 18%, while incidents of being drawn into crime rose by 38%. The shrinking population accounts for part of the increase in the ratio; but the growing weight of the peer group for adolescents in smaller families, who may be lonelier, is also a possibility worth considering.

A Psychological Reading: The Unseen Stories of Girls Drawn into Crime

The fine line between victimisation and crime

In the stories of girls drawn into crime, there are often difficult experiences beforehand: conflict within the family, neglect, witnessing violence, unsafe relationships or being away from home. This situation, referred to in the literature as the "victim-offender overlap", is a reminder that a child may at the same time have been harmed and faced an allegation of crime.

Internalising symptoms

International systematic reviews of adolescents in institutions (Fazel and colleagues, 2008; Beaudry and colleagues, 2021) report that depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms are more common among adolescent girls than boys. This means that behind girls' behaviour there may often be an unseen emotional burden: sadness, shame, worthlessness and anxiety. Our article on depression in adolescents can help you recognise these signs.

Relational risks

The need to belong is very strong in adolescence. A girl who feels misunderstood at home may attach herself intensely to a circle of friends or a relationship in which she feels accepted. The risky behaviour of this circle may be accepted so as "not to be left out". In this case, the problem is often not just "bad friends" but the child's needs that are not being met elsewhere.

Stigma and shame

After an allegation of crime, girls may face harsher judgement than boys, both in the family and in their surroundings. The reaction "How could a girl do this?" deepens shame and makes it harder for the child to ask for help. Labelling theory suggests that attaching a "criminal" identity to a child can increase the risk of the child adopting that identity.

Let us imagine a fifteen-year-old girl who in recent months has often been skipping school, coming home late and not talking to her family. One day she is called to the police station over an incident she was involved in with a group of friends. The family's first reaction is anger and shame. Yet in later conversations it emerges that she has been very unhappy for some time, has been excluded at school and has felt "seen" only in that group of friends. This fictional example shows the importance of looking at the need behind the behaviour.

It is easy to call a child "a criminal"; the real question is to ask what that child needs.

Hopeful News: Most Children Grow Out of This Period

The distinction drawn by Moffitt (1993) in developmental psychology shows that most rule-breaking behaviour seen in adolescence is "adolescence-limited" and decreases markedly in adulthood. In a smaller group, difficulties begin in early childhood and persist; early and intensive support matters most for this group.

This information is hopeful for families; but it does not mean waiting because "it'll pass anyway". In a study of children drawn into crime assessed at a university hospital in Turkey (Yıldız and colleagues, 2019), at least one psychiatric diagnosis was found in 72.5% of the children; yet only 8.5% were in regular follow-up. In other words, the need for support is high, while the rate of reaching support is low. The period after first contact is an important window of opportunity for assessment and support.

Practical Suggestions for Families and Schools

For families:

1. Look at the feeling behind the behaviour. Skipping school, lying or coming home late are often signs of a need. Asking "What's been happening lately?" instead of "Why are you doing this?" keeps the door open.
2. Keep warmth and boundaries together. Research shows that parenting that is loving but sets consistent boundaries is protective.
3. Get to know her friends rather than banning them. Inviting your child's friends to your home can be more effective than trying to keep them away.
4. Do not magnify the shame. Your child's safety and wellbeing matter more than what people around you will say.
5. Work together with the school. Regular contact with the school counselling service makes it possible to notice problems early.

For schools:

1. Absenteeism is also the sign teachers see as the greatest risk. It is important to treat absenteeism not only as a disciplinary matter but as a signal for support.
2. Attention should be paid to internalising symptoms, sudden drops in grades and changes in the circle of friends among girls.
3. The counselling service can work with Social Service Centres and health services where needed. In Çorum there are Social Service Centres in the city centre and in four districts (İskilip, Sungurlu, Alaca, Osmancık).

When Should You Seek Professional Support?

Occasionally defying rules in adolescence can be part of development. However, in the following situations it is important to seek support from a professional:

• If absence from school has become constant or dropping out is on the agenda
• If there are long periods away from home, not coming home or attempts to run away
• If there is suspicion or signs of substance use
• If there is marked withdrawal, constant crying, hopelessness or outbursts of anger
• If the child gives signs suggesting she may have experienced violence or abuse
• If shame, fear or sleep problems have become pronounced after an allegation of crime

If your child talks about harming herself or wanting to die, never brush it off; in an emergency, call 112 (emergency services). If the child's safety is at risk, applying to the relevant authorities is also a step of protection.

How Is Therapy Carried Out with Adolescent Girls at Risk?

In therapy, the first goal is to build a safe relationship in which the adolescent feels listened to without judgement. Without this trust, it is hard to reach the feelings behind the behaviour.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on skills such as emotion regulation, impulse control, problem-solving and being able to say "no". The adolescent learns to notice what she feels in difficult moments and to try different paths instead of risky choices. If there are traumatic experiences, these are addressed at a pace the adolescent is ready for and with appropriate methods. You can find more information in our article on trauma in adolescents.

A schema therapy perspective helps in understanding beliefs formed early on, such as "nobody loves me" or "I'm only accepted if I go along with others". Family sessions, meanwhile, support parents in reconnecting with their child and rebuilding a safe environment at home.

Adolescent counselling can address these processes for both the young person and the family together. Sessions can be held face to face in Çorum or online; where needed, a child and adolescent psychiatry assessment is recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should girls drawn into crime be looked at separately?

For girls, being drawn into crime and victimisation may be intertwined more often, and internalising symptoms such as depression and post-traumatic stress may be more common. This is why support should focus not only on the behaviour but also on the experiences behind it.

Is the rate of children drawn into crime high in Çorum?

According to 2017 data, the rate in Çorum appears higher than a rough calculation for Turkey, but it is in the same band as neighbouring provinces. In addition, the data are numbers of incidents, not numbers of children, and no current provincial data could be found. The figures should therefore be interpreted with care.

My daughter was involved in an incident. How should I approach her?

Your anger and shame are understandable; but your first goal should be for your child to feel safe and heard. Instead of blaming, try to understand what she has been through, and plan to get psychological support alongside the legal process.

Will these behaviours pass when adolescence ends?

Developmental research shows that most rule-breaking behaviour seen in adolescence decreases in adulthood. During this period, however, early support is very important for preventing repetition and protecting the child's mental health.

• #girls drawn into crime
• #adolescent mental health
• #children at risk
• #protective factors
• #child protection

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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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