Child perpetrators of sexual violence have become an important concern in Indonesia because they challenge the juvenile justice system to balance legal accountability with rehabilitation. This study examines the factors contributing to child perpetrators of sexual violence and explores the integration of legal psychology dimensions into rehabilitation practices through an empirical legal study conducted at the Special Child Development Institution (LPKA) Class II Maros. The study involved 24 male juveniles aged 14–17 years and 2 LPKA officers. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis and were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The findings indicate that children’s involvement in sexual violence results from the interaction of internal factors, including psychological, biological, and spiritual aspects, and external factors, such as family conditions, social environment, and limited legal and sexuality education. These findings demonstrate that rehabilitation should extend beyond legal sanctions by incorporating legal psychology to address the underlying causes of offending behavior. This study contributes to the development of a rehabilitation model that integrates legal and psychological perspectives to support recovery, reduce recidivism, and strengthen the social reintegration of child perpetrators of sexual violence.
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