Juvenile Delinquency and Developmental Disabilities : Youth With Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

The present article, which aims to provide appropriate information and proper support for youth with developmental disabilities, reviews the literature on factors associated with instances of juvenile delinquency that were caused by the youth's developmental disabilities, focusing on what is known about juvenile delinquency in youth with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Recent studies have revealed 2 specific risk factors. One is a reflection of the individual's developmental disabilities, and the other is based on influences from the individual's environment. However, emphasizing only risk factors when providing support to youth and their families and guardians in relation to the youth's delinquency would mean that social significance has not been taken fully into consideration. The present authors contend that it is necessary to introduce the role of protective factors, and to focus on the youth's internal worlds, in order to accomplish a more comprehensive study of instances of juvenile delinquency that have been caused by the youth's developmental disabilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(journal abstract)