Construcción histórica del tratamiento jurídico del adolescente infractor de la ley penal colombiana (1837-2010) / Historical construction of the juridical treatment of adolescent offenders in Colombian criminal law (1837-2010)

El objetivo de este artículo es presentar un recuento histórico del tratamiento jurídico que se le otorgaba al adolescente que infringía la ley penal colombiana, desde el siglo XIX hasta la actualidad, describir el procedimiento y las medidas de corrección que se les aplicaban, así como el surgimiento de los primeros establecimientos de corrección para su tratamiento. En Colombia, en el siglo XIX, cuando los adolescentes infringían la ley penal, no se preveía un tratamiento jurídico ni sancionatorio diferente al que se les otorgaba a los adultos, no se atendía a sus condiciones especiales de desarrollo físico y síquico, era como si la categoría “niño”, como sujeto, no existiera. En 1920 se crea una jurisdicción especializada para los adolescentes infractores de la ley penal; a pesar de que se les otorga un tratamiento diferente, son vistos como objetos de protección y no como sujetos de derecho. Finalmente, a partir de la Convención de los Derechos del Niño, ratificada por Colombia por medio de la Ley 12 de 1991, se habla de un sujeto de derecho. Sin embargo, aún se evidencian sistemas de pensamiento que persisten en una visión del sujeto adolescente como objeto de protección y en un tratamiento fundamentado en la disciplina, acompañado de serias violaciones a los derechos fundamentales de los adolescentes infractores de la ley penal. Por medio de esta investigación se mostrará el surgimiento y avance histórico del tratamiento social, legislativo, procedimental y correccional de los adolescentes infractores de la ley penal, y se buscará sacar a la luz sistemas de pensamiento institucionalizados en torno al tratamiento del adolescente, que han persistido a lo largo de la historia y que se consideraban superados

This article is aimed at offering a historical review of the juridical treatment given to adolescents having infringed Colombian criminal law since the 19th century to our days, as well as describing both the procedure and methods of correction applied and the emergence of the fist youth corrective establishments created to treat these youngsters. In Colombia, in the 19th century, when adolescents broke criminal law, no juridical or sanctionatory treatments were envisaged other than those given to adults, neither any attention was paid to the minor’s special physical and psychic development conditions, just as if the category of “child” as a subject did not exist. In 1920, a specialized jurisdiction was created for adolescents having infringed criminal law. Despite the fact that a different treatment was granted to them, they were still seen as object of protection rather than subject to law. Finally, from the Child Rights Convention (“Convención de los Derechos del Niño”) ratified by Colombia by means of Act (“Ley”) 12 of 1991, a “subject to law” is mentioned. However, there is still evidence of thinking systems persisting in a vision of the adolescent subject as object of protection and a treatment based on discipline accompanied by serious violations of the fundamental rights of adolescents having broken criminal law. This research will show the emergence and historical advance of the social, legislative, procedural and correctional treatment or minor offenders of criminal law, looking to bring into light institutionalized thinking systems regarding treatment of adolescents deemed to have overcome their criminal life but having persisted in crime in the course of history

Psychiatric Characteristics of Adolescents with Minor Offenses and Follow-Up after a 6-Month Protective Disposition

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the differences between the psychiatric characteristics of minor juvenile offenders and normal adolescents as well as differences in psychiatric symptoms after a six month protective disposition. Further, the current study aimed at determining psychiatric screening methods for evaluating delinquent adolescents. METHODS: The Latent Delinquency Questionnaire (LDQ), the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS), the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Reynolds Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ), the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Inventory (SCI), and the Korean Youth Self Report (K-YSR) were administered to 134 normal adolescents (114 males) and 109 minor offenders (97 males) aged 12 to 16 years. After six months, 46 offenders (all males) completed the RCMAS, CDI, SIQ, and SCI again. RESULTS: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems, but were significantly less depressive, anxious, or suicidal than normal controls. Further, recidivists had more anxiety, depression, and delinquent behavior than non-recidivists. Minor offenders reported that their anxiety and depressive mood decreased after six months of protective disposition. CONCLUSION: Adolescents with minor offenses had more delinquent, aggressive behavior and externalizing behavior problems suggesting that psychiatric screening tools for minor offenders should measure disruptive behavior disorder.