Publication details
„Bod zlomu“: Fenomenologický pohled na zkušenost trestného činu u mladých prvopachatelů
| Title in English | "The Turning Point“: A Phenomenological Perspective on Young First-Time Offenders’ Experiences of Criminal Acts |
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| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | This study aims to provide a deeper understanding of how juvenile first-time offenders subjectively experience their contact with the criminal justice system, social responses, and the process of subsequent change. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), in-depth interviews were analyzed to reveal the dynamics of a transition from feelings of injustice, helplessness, and stigmatization toward gradual acceptance of responsibility and the search for a new identity. The analysis indicates that delinquent acts are not primarily perceived as moral failures, but rather as consequences of social deficits, peer pressure, the need for acceptance, or impulsive responses to challenging situations. Contact with the justice system is often experienced as traumatic and humiliating; feelings of injustice may contribute to a defensive self-concept of “myself as a victim.” Gradual change occurs particularly when relational support and opportunities for reflection are available. In such cases, punishment can become a space for personal growth rather than merely a sanction. The findings highlight the importance of an empathic approach, relational work, and the promotion of autonomy within interventions for juvenile offenders. The phenomenological perspective demonstrates that resocialization begins when the experience of punishment enables young people to understand their own life story and restore a sense of meaning and personal competence. |
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