Navigating adversity in custody: A phenomenological study of children in conflict with the law

Abstract

Children in conflict with the law constitute a highly vulnerable population within juvenile justice systems, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts where institutional resources are constrained. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 detained children residing in a social development centre in the Philippines. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions and analyzed using Moustakas’ modified Stevick–Colaizzi–Keen method. Six themes emerged: disrupted educational trajectories, constrained family support, emotional and psychological distress, ambivalent perceptions of rehabilitation, unmet vocational needs, and institutional limitations. Building from these findings, the study advances custodial opportunity strain theory, which conceptualizes detention as a form of secondary strain that stabilizes behaviour while simultaneously restricting access to educational, vocational, and relational opportunities necessary for long-term desistance. Findings highlight the importance of opportunity-restorative rehabilitation and have direct implications for counselling practice, trauma-informed care, and reintegration-focused interventions for justice-involved youth.