PARENTAL INFLUENCE AMONG CHILDREN TO REDUCE CHILD IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW IN BARANGAY STO. CRISTO SAN JOSE DEL MONTE, BULACAN

Abstract

San Jose del Monte, a city in Bulacan, has increasingly grappled with the issue of children in conflict with the law (CICL), a concern that has grown alongside urbanization and population expansion in recent decades. The emergence of juvenile delinquency in the area can be traced back to the 1990s, when migration from neighboring provinces intensified. This demographic shift brought about heightened poverty, reduced access to education, and a rise in criminal activity. Children from marginalized families, often deprived of proper guidance and support systems, became more susceptible to engaging in offenses such as theft, drug-related crimes, and violence. This study adopted a quantitative research design to investigate the role of parental guidance in mitigating juvenile delinquency. The researchers employed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis to comprehensively assess how various aspects of parental involvement influence the likelihood of youth engaging in unlawful behavior. The study involved twenty-five (25) parents and twenty-five (25) juveniles from Barangay Santo Cristo in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Data were collected through the distribution of printed questionnaires during the Academic Year 2024–2025. The demographic profile of the respondents indicates that the largest age group is between 16 and 21 years old, making up 52% of the total sample. In terms of gender, 64% of the respondents are male, totaling 32 out of 50 participants. Concerning economic status, the majority—72%—fall within the low-income category, earning ₱20,000 or less per month. The demographic data indicate that the majority of respondents were male, with a smaller representation of females. Most participants were aged between 16 and 21 years and were primarily from households classified within the lower-income bracket.