Criminal Law Education as a Preventive Strategy Against Juvenile Delinquency in Schools

Abstract

This activity was carried out as an effort to provide students with an understanding of criminal law as a preventive measure to reduce deviant behavior in the school environment. The community service program was conducted at SMK Triguna Syarif Hidayatullah from October 1 to 3, 2025, through a series of counseling sessions, group discussions, and simple case simulations. The activities focused on increasing students’ knowledge of behavioral boundaries that may potentially violate the law, as well as the possible consequences for themselves and their surroundings. Throughout the implementation, students actively participated in each session and showed strong interest in topics related to juvenile offenses, such as bullying, minor theft, and misuse of digital media. The two-way interaction enabled facilitators to identify students’ initial level of understanding and adjust the delivery methods to make the material more accessible. Evaluation results indicated an improvement in students’ understanding of legal risks and the importance of self-control in situations that may trigger negative actions. This activity demonstrates that an educational approach connected to students’ real-life experiences can open space for dialogue and foster early legal awareness. Providing legal education in schools has the potential to serve as a sustainable effort to build a culture of discipline and responsibility among students.