MORAL REASONING OF FILIPINO CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

This study identifies how children in conflict with the law detained in a youth rehabilitation center justify the crimes they have committed. Interviews conducted in Filipino were done to 40 participants. Poverty conditions of the participants, pressure from gangs and feelings of injustice given by the person who was victimized were given as justification for committing crimes. Feelings of remorse were felt if they perceive that the persons victimized were physically frail but were absent to those who have committed crimes against affluent people. The research findings support Gilligan’s (1988) differences in moral reasoning among males and females. In instances of murder for example, male participants justify their offenses by stating that it is justice to kill those who did them wrong or have hurt their ego. For female participants, murder is committed because they perceive their victims are perpetrators of crimes who would continue to do injustice to other people. Murdering them would mean an end to injustice to other people. It is recommended that CICL be taught values education through addressing higher ordered thinking skills in the area of moral reasoning. Ill-fate and not violating the law is seen as the reason behind being penalized. In this case, they should be trained on how to make socially-appropriate decisions and be taught that there are consequences to actions that violate the law. They should be educated on the value of work and engage in productive activities that would help them have sources of livelihood in order to avoid recidivism. It is obvious that poverty propels the participants who are accused of crimes against property to violate the law. With this, skills training and jobs have to be provided for by the local government units in order to minimize this problem.