Behind the Behaviour: Supporting Young Offenders Through Forensic Psychology ^†

Abstract

This study highlights the role of forensic psychology in supporting juvenile offenders within the Portuguese Justice System. Forensic psychologists ensure that legal proceedings are developmentally appropriate and psychologically informed, helping minors to understand and participate in the process. Data from the Victims Information and Assistance Office (GIAV) show that, between 2020 and 2025, 87 juvenile offenders (54 boys and 33 girls) were supported, with theft and drug trafficking being the most common crimes. Girls were more often involved in theft, and boys were more often involved in drug trafficking. Forensic psychology adds critical value by promoting rehabilitation, safeguarding rights, and contributing to fair, proportionate, and context-sensitive decisions.

1. Introduction

Forensic psychology plays a crucial role in supporting juvenile offenders throughout legal proceedings by providing a developmental, contextualised, and evidence-based understanding of their behaviours. In the Portuguese Justice System, the involvement of forensic psychologists in juvenile cases—particularly those involving young offenders under the Law on the Protection of Children and Young People in Danger and the Educational Guardianship Law [1]—is essential to ensure that responses to offending behaviour are fair, proportionate, and informed by the psychological characteristics and life contexts of the minors involved. Forensic psychologists contribute at multiple procedural stages, including police interviews, judicial hearings, and pre-sentencing assessments. Their presence ensures that the minor comprehends the nature and implications of the proceedings and is supported in providing their account in a developmentally appropriate and psychologically safe manner. This is particularly important to avoid secondary victimisation and to uphold the procedural rights of minors, in line with both national legislation and international standards—such as Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child [2,3]. In Portugal, psychologists working with juvenile offenders often form part of multidisciplinary teams operating in child protection commissions (CPCJ), juvenile courts, and detention centers. Within these contexts, forensic psychologists conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and collaborate on the development and monitoring of individualised educational plans. These plans not only address legal requirements but are designed to promote the juvenile’s reintegration into society, their psychosocial rehabilitation, and the construction of prosocial life projects.

Furthermore, forensic psychologists advise judicial authorities on the minor’s maturity, psychological functioning, trauma history, family context, and capacity for change. This information is vital in ensuring that judicial decisions regarding educational measures—such as community-based monitoring or custodial placement—are appropriate and proportionate to both the offence and the developmental profile of the juvenile.

During the execution phase of court-imposed measures, psychologists remain involved through ongoing support, regular re-assessment, and progress reporting to the judiciary. In custodial settings, they also contribute to the design and implementation of therapeutic interventions, including mental health care and emotional regulation programmes, increasingly recognised as essential for young offenders presenting with psychiatric comorbidities or substance misuse issues.

Finally, forensic psychologists act as a bridge between the justice system and the welfare system, especially in cases where young people are simultaneously in conflict with the law and in need of protective measures. Their expertise allows for nuanced case formulations that distinguish between risk and vulnerability, and that advocate for integrated responses across the child protection, education, and criminal justice sectors.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore and illustrate the essential functions of forensic psychology in supporting juvenile offenders within legal proceedings, and to highlight the added value of evidence-informed developmental approaches in promoting fair justice and sustainable rehabilitation.

2. Methods

Based within the Victims’ Information and Assistance Office (GIAV), within the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the forensic psychologists provided support to 87 juvenile offenders [54 boys (62%) and 33 girls (38%)], aged between 15 and 17 years old (M = 16.7, SD = 0.55), throughout the years 2020 to 2025. The forensic psychologists at GIAV accompanied juvenile offenders to several legal proceedings, namely constitution of the defendant (n = 58, 67%) and provisional suspension of proceedings (n = 19, 22%). Nonetheless, other interventions (e.g., first judicial interrogation and trial) are also part of GIAV’s scope of work (n = 10, 11%).

Data were collected from GIAV’s database.

3. Results and Discussion

Regarding the crimes committed, the results show that 26 (30%) juvenile offenders were involved in theft, 17 (20%) in drug trafficking, and 10 (11%) in unlicensed driving, as well as involvement in other crimes, for instance, physical assault and illegal possession of a firearm (n = 34, 39%) (

Table 1. Results regarding the most prevalent criminal offences.

Criminal Offence	n	%
Theft	26	30
Drug trafficking	17	20
Unlicensed driving	10	11
Others (e.g., physical assault, illegal possession of a firearm)	34	39

).

Furthermore, they indicate that girls are more frequently associated with theft (twenty-three girls and three boys), while boys are more often linked to drug trafficking (sixteen boys and one girl) (

Table 2. Cross-checking data with gender.

Criminal Offence	Female	Male
Theft	23	3
Drug trafficking	1	16
Unlicensed driving	1	9
Others (e.g., physical assault, illegal possession of a firearm)	5	29

).

These findings are corroborated by literature (e.g., [4,5]) and can reflect broader social, economic, and possibly cultural dynamics that shape the pathways into delinquency for each gender. Compared to other crimes, theft is more common among girls as it is frequently motivated by peer pressure, a desire for prestige items, or a coping strategy for emotional pain or unfulfilled monetary requirements [5]. Additionally, it is seen to be a low-risk, low-violence crime, which might help to explain why theft, for instance, shoplifting, is so common among females as they are less likely to engage in aggressive or confrontational criminal activity [5]. On the other hand, the second most common offence in this study, drug trafficking, is primarily linked to boys. This is consistent with prior research showing that male juveniles tend to engage in organised or group-based illegal activity, which is frequently connected to early criminal socialisation, exposure to street networks, and masculinity norms [6].

These gendered delinquency trends highlight the importance of developing tailored intervention approaches [6,7]. To achieve this, an in-depth understanding of the underlying motives and contextual factors behind offences such as shoplifting is essential. Such an understanding can inform the design of gender-sensitive prevention and rehabilitation programmes that directly address the psychological and social vulnerabilities contributing to these minors’ involvement in delinquent behaviour [6,7]. Ultimately, this approach aims not only to intervene effectively but also to reduce the recurrence and escalation of such behaviours [7].

4. Conclusions

Forensic psychology is a pivotal component of the juvenile justice system, translating psychological science into judicial practice to deliver decisions that are developmentally informed, fair, and tailored to the unique needs of each young offender [6,7]. The experience at GIAV exemplifies how embedding forensic psychologists throughout all the procedural phases—from initial hearings to the execution of measures—enhances the justice system’s capacity to interpret offending behaviours within their broader psychosocial contexts, resulting in more nuanced, individualised, and just outcomes.

The distinct gender-related offending patterns observed underscore an urgent need for gender-responsive evidence-based intervention strategies. Programmes targeting girls should prioritise addressing emotional coping mechanisms, peer influences, and socio-economic vulnerabilities linked to offences such as theft, while interventions for boys must confront the influence of group dynamics, street socialisation, and masculinity norms prevalent in drug trafficking [5,6,7]. Such targeted approaches have the potential not only to improve rehabilitation effectiveness but also to significantly reduce rates of recidivism and support more positive social reintegration.

From a policy standpoint, this study advocates for the formal institutionalisation of forensic psychologists within every stage of juvenile justice procedures, thereby safeguarding minors’ procedural rights and ensuring that decisions are underpinned by robust empirical evidence and developmental insight (cf. Directive (EU) 2016/800 [2]). Achieving this requires dedicated investment in specialist training, resource allocation, and the development of multidisciplinary teams equipped to address the complex needs of juvenile offenders comprehensively.

Academically, the study contributes meaningful empirical evidence to the growing literature supporting rehabilitative, developmental, and evidence-based approaches in juvenile justice [6,7]. It emphasises the critical role of detailed psychological assessments that differentiate risk from vulnerability, thereby guiding judicial decision-making towards more ethical and effective outcomes. Furthermore, it highlights areas for future research, particularly regarding the long-term impacts of tailored interventions and the influence of sociocultural factors specific to the Portuguese context.

In summary, forensic psychology not only protects the rights of children and young people in conflict with the law but also drives systemic transformation towards a justice system that is inclusive, equitable, and prioritises sustainable rehabilitation. This dual role ultimately promotes healthier outcomes for individuals and contributes to broader societal wellbeing [3,6,7].