Criminological Review Of Perpetrators Of Child Molestery in Connection With Differential Association Theory (Case Studi At Class Ila Karawang Prison )

Child molestation is inappropriate and unethical behavior that violates norms of decency and morality, especially those related to sexual acts against others without consent or with the aim of degrading someone's dignity. This study aims to examine the behavior of perpetrators of child molestation from a psychological criminology perspective, with an emphasis on the application of the Differential Association theory. In addition, this study also aims to explore the factors that drive someone to commit child molestation, as well as how the Correctional Institution's efforts to overcome this are carried out by the perpetrators. The approach used is qualitative with an empirical legal method, involving perpetrators of child molestation who have served their sentences at the Class IIA Karawang Correctional Institution. Data were obtained through interviews with perpetrators and prison officers. The results of the study showed that some perpetrators had a background as victims of sexual violence, and grew up in an educational environment that tended to be permissive towards such deviant behavior. This condition forms a tendency towards deviant sexual behavior. These findings support the Differential Association theory, which states that criminal behavior is not something that is innate, but rather the result of a learning process in a particular social environment.

Keywords: Molestation, Criminology, Differential Association Theory.