The effects of child neglect on adulthood and delinquency in Malta

Abstract

This dissertation explores the effects of child neglect on adulthood and delinquency in Malta. Victims of child neglect are those individuals who might be so much traumatized during their childhood that as a result they might find it very hard to start a new life during adulthood. Therefore, from this research I wanted to find out to what extent are victims of child neglect prone to delinquency and criminal behaviour in adulthood? This suggests that there might be victims of child neglect who unfortunately follow the wrong path which might lead to delinquency and criminality. Here, the victim of child neglect becomes a delinquent or even a criminal in adulthood, and might be committing different types of crimes. In addition, I also wanted to find out whether there might be certain victims of child neglect who might be arrested and sentenced. This means that I also wanted to find out whether a victim of child neglect might receive a custodial or else non custodial sentence. Apart from that, I also wanted to find out whether there might be certain victims of child neglect who might become resilient in adulthood. This explains the fact that there might be certain victims of child neglect who might get married, raise a family of their own and even possibly have a career. Therefore, this means that I wanted to focus solely on the effects of child neglect on adulthood and delinquency in Malta.