Recognizing Criminogenic Ties in Mexico: Children as Collateral Damage

Among the objectives of the Mexican criminal justice system are the protection of the innocent, the restitution of damages, and the fight against impunity. These goals seek to ensure a rightful, fair, and just criminal process. However, problems arise when these objectives are overlooked, often resulting in the neglect of victims—some of whom may go on to replicate the very criminal behaviors they have been exposed to within their environments. 

Analyzing the involvement of families, communities, and other social institutions is crucial for preventing and reducing crime, particularly in light of the significant influence criminogenic ties exert on individual development. Understanding offenders as former victims provides critical insight into their behaviors and highlights institutional failures to act as protective caregivers. This perspective does not absolve offenders of responsibility for their actions; rather, it emphasizes the importance of identifying risk factors that contribute to a child’s transformation from victim to aggressor. 

Growing up in an environment where crime is normalized can profoundly affect a person’s development, especially when criminal behavior is a regular part of daily life. To truly understand the root causes of criminal conduct, it is necessary to examine the life experiences and social, emotional, and environmental factors that have shaped an offender's decision-making processes. 

Criminogenic ties—such as family members or peers engaged in criminal activities—can create environments where crime becomes not only normalized but, in some cases, glamorized. This normalization fosters pro-criminal attitudes, portraying lawbreakers as heroes or role models, particularly among impressionable youth. 

Risk factors for criminal behavior have always existed; therefore, it is incumbent upon government institutions and local communities to develop and implement strategies aimed at protecting potential victims, especially children. Children, as members of vulnerable groups, are often targeted by criminal organizations that exploit their lack of protection, care, or guidance, drawing them into illegal activities. 

The government must assume a proactive role in breaking these criminogenic cycles within families by addressing re-victimization and reinforcing children's rights. Violence against children must be recognized not only as a direct offense but also as a significant risk factor for future criminal behavior. A child's best interests are compromised when they are exposed to individuals who have engaged in criminal conduct. 

We must begin to view these children not merely as potential offenders but as present victims of systemic neglect and social failure. Society as a whole must work to break intergenerational cycles of violence and criminality, enabling children to grow up with access to opportunities rather than being funneled into lives of crime. 

Every child deserves a safe, nurturing, and dignified upbringing. Protecting children's rights is not solely the responsibility of the government; it is a shared duty involving parents, educators, neighbors, and society at large. When a child is neglected, it signifies more than just abandonment—it means that their fundamental needs are unmet, affecting them psychologically, emotionally, and physically. 

To effectively prevent criminogenic ties and uphold children's rights, we must recognize that victimization can occur long before it becomes visible to the child or to others. Children must not grow up resenting their parents or environments; rather, they should be guided toward paths where education is valued and crime is seen for what it truly is—deeply harmful rather than glamorous. 

Sources: 

• Olson, E. (July 20, 2018). Familia, niños y delincuencia: La violencia como herencia. Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. Retrieved from: https://blogs.iadb.org/seguridad-ciudadana/es/familia-ninos-y-delincuencia-la-violencia-como-herencia/ 

• Inter-American Development Bank. (December 12, 2023). Citizen security in Latin America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/citizen-security-latin-america-and-caribbean 

• Cervantes, E. A. (1993). Factores criminógenos sociales en México (Bachelor's thesis, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México). UNAM. Retrieved from: https://ru.dgb.unam.mx/bitstream/20.500.14330/TES01000198314/3/0198314.pdf 

• Hikal, W. (2017). Factores de riesgo que provocan la criminalidad. Ciencia, 68(4), 14–19. https://www.amc.edu.mx/revistaciencia/images/revista/68_4/PDF/68_4_factores_riesgo.pdf 

• García Montoya, L. (2021). Factores criminógenos en jóvenes y su integración en la delincuencia organizada. Biolex, 13, 402-428. https://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S200755452021000100402 

---

Follow LexTalk World for more news and updates from International Legal Industry.

---