Correcting Mistakes, Redirecting the Future: The Lived Experiences of Public Officers Handling Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL)

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of public officers handling Children in Conflict with the Law focusing on both the challenges they faced and their aspirations. Using a phenomenological research design, the study aimed to understand the emotional, procedural, and systemic obstacles encountered by professionals such as police officers and social workers in managing CICL cases. Ten key informants, purposively selected for their direct involvement in CICL cases, participated in in-depth interviews. The data were transcribed and analyzed to identify key themes, revealing eight themes that represented the experiences of the participants. Member checking was used to ensure validity, allowing participants to verify the accuracy of the transcriptions. The study identified several positive challenges, happy to serve and contentment through collaboration, participants have also negative challenges such as emotional struggles in work and barriers to effective collaboration, inter-agency cooperation and patience and commitment to serve for addressing the challenges encountered, and for their aspirations the provision for logistic support and security of tenure. This study suggests the need for reforms, including enhanced training for officers, improved collaboration between agencies, and the expansion of restorative justice programs and strengthening community support for CICL is also critical for ensuring successful rehabilitation and reintegration.