Detective Column

Is Your Child Becoming a Delinquent? Understanding Behavioral Investigations for Children

Recently, there has been an increase in troubles involving children. Parents might wish to believe that their own child is exempt, but many become worried when they notice their child’s problematic behavior. When children live apart from parents or are often left alone, parents naturally become anxious about what they might be doing without supervision.

These behavioral issues can be uncovered through detective investigations. However, few people regularly hire detectives, leaving many to feel uncertain or distrustful about their suspicions. In this article, we’ll explain what detective investigations for children involve and what steps you should take if you’re concerned your child might be a delinquent.

Is Your Child Becoming a Delinquent? Key Signs to Watch For

You might think, “Is my child becoming a delinquent?” But even if you suspect something, you may dismiss it as “overthinking” or believe, “Not my child.” Different families have varying standards for what constitutes delinquent behavior, but here are some key signs to watch for from an outsider’s perspective.

Late Returns and Frequent Absences from Home

When your child comes home late or is often absent from home, it naturally raises concerns. While it's acceptable for older children to go out on their own, establishing household rules such as “Let’s agree on your destination” or “You should be home by a certain time” is important.

Be especially wary if your child leaves without telling you where they’re going. While it’s not advisable to be overly restrictive, it’s beneficial to know where your child is going.

Change in Dress Style and Flashy Appearance

Delinquents are often stereotypically seen as having flashy or unkempt appearances. However, it’s unfair to label your child as a delinquent based solely on their looks.

If your child’s style has become more extravagant—such as wearing branded clothes—it might be worth considering whether they’re involved in unsuitable part-time jobs or social circles. While a flashy appearance doesn’t definitively indicate delinquency, changes in their look might reflect new romantic interests or friendships. Instead of being overly controlling, it’s important to understand why your child has changed their style.

Concerned About Your Child’s Friendships

One of the primary causes of a child’s delinquent behavior is their friendships. As a parent, you might notice that associating with troublemaking peers could lead to your own behavior deteriorating.

Adolescents, in particular, rely heavily on friendships and family within the limited environment of school, making peer influence strong. If you suspect your child is becoming delinquent, start by examining their friendships.

However, children don’t always grow in the ways parents expect. It’s not possible to control whom they befriend, and ultimately, children are responsible for their own relationships. Nevertheless, if your child is involved in illegal or disruptive activities with friends, it’s crucial as a parent to guide them toward a better path.

Your Child Doesn’t Open Up About Their Life

In the past, delinquent behavior was often easily recognized by outward signs like flashy clothing, drinking, or smoking regardless of age. However, nowadays, children might engage in deceitful activities online or participate in cyberbullying, effectively hiding their delinquency.

As a parent, preventing your child from veering off path involves fostering an environment where they feel comfortable sharing everything. Avoid keeping secrets within the household and create an atmosphere where your child can easily talk about anything, thereby establishing a supportive environment.

Worried Your Child Is Delinquent? Understanding Behavioral Investigations for Children

How can you address your child’s problematic behavior? Ideally, you’d guide them within the home, but some parents struggle with knowing exactly what’s going on when their child seems involved in troubling activities.

Detectives can help resolve such interpersonal issues through investigation. You can use detective services to assess your child’s behavior, which can help:

• Prevent your child from getting involved in bullying, scams, or other troubles.
• Stop your child from becoming an offender.

By investigating your child, you can take proactive steps to protect them. Some issues might require police intervention, but having concrete information can facilitate smoother resolutions.

Detective agencies conduct various investigations, including cheating, stalking, and missing persons cases. The foundation of these investigations is behavioral studies, where detectives observe and report on a subject’s activities when parents aren’t around.

What is a Behavioral Investigation?

Let’s delve deeper into what a behavioral investigation entails. There are various types, but in this context, we’re focusing on investigations into a child’s behavior. This involves tracking where your child goes, who they’re with, and what they’re doing when you’re not around. Additionally, it may involve locating a child who has run away or determining the residence of a child who has moved out.

Detectives operate as third parties who don’t know your family’s background, which might make you wonder, “How do they investigate?” Some might suspect that detectives use illegal methods to gather information. However, it’s important to note that detectives are legitimate, legally recognized investigation agencies. The Detective Agency Act regulates their methods, business practices, and ethical obligations, ensuring they operate within legal boundaries.

After completing an investigation, detectives compile their findings into a report, which can serve as evidence in court cases. For child-related issues, the results can help mediate settlements or guide parents in addressing their child’s behavior. Having concrete investigation results clarifies responsibility and aids in resolving the issue.

What Are the Costs of a Behavioral Investigation?

Detective investigations come with fees, and costs can vary widely depending on the type of investigation. Generally, investigations are not inexpensive due to their specialized nature. Depending on the duration, fees can range from 500,000 to 1,000,000 yen (approximately $4,500 to $9,000 USD). Longer investigations or those requiring additional inquiries can exceed this range.

Additionally, pricing is determined by each detective agency, with no standardized industry rates. Different detectives have their strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose one based on your specific needs and the area you want investigated.

Most agencies provide estimates in advance, so always inquire about the expected cost before signing a contract. Obtain quotes from several agencies and compare them to find one that fits your budget and requirements.

Case Studies of Behavioral Investigations

Let’s look at some examples of how behavioral investigations for children are conducted.

Investigating a Child Who’s Suddenly Unreachable

A child who had started living alone as a university student suddenly became unreachable. A detective investigation was launched to determine if the child was still attending university or had moved into an apartment. The results showed that the child was not at their designated residence but was secretly cohabitating with a romantic partner. Additionally, it was discovered that the child had canceled their phone plan due to unpaid bills. Such investigations can sometimes reveal unexpected facts, providing parents with peace of mind.

Gathering Information from University Classmates

In one case, parents received reports from their child’s university classmates that their child hadn’t been attending the lab or classes recently. Concerned, they sought an investigation to uncover the truth. It was found that the child had stopped going to university and was instead working part-time jobs. The child had not been communicating their situation to their parents, leading to misunderstandings that the behavioral investigation helped resolve. While it’s possible everything is fine, there are instances where lack of communication can escalate into serious issues, making early intervention crucial.

Investigating a Child Who Goes Out Late at Night

Some children have a habit of going out late at night. In one instance, when the child wouldn’t disclose their whereabouts, the parents grew concerned they might be associating with bad friends and hired a detective. The investigation revealed that while the child wasn’t involved in any criminal activities, they were loitering around the train station with friends, exhibiting delinquent behavior.

How parents respond to this finding depends on the household. It’s important to handle the situation thoughtfully—whether to openly discuss and encourage rehabilitation or to address it subtly—since the investigation itself might have caused emotional distress for the child.

Locating a Child Who Has Run Away from Home

Tracking down a child who has run away from home is another aspect of behavioral investigations. The effectiveness of the investigation depends on the clues available, so it’s essential to share any potential locations or leads with the detective. A smooth investigation process can help keep costs down.

Once the child’s location is identified, detectives can also explore their friendships if the child is living or interacting with others. Children who leave home are often at risk of getting involved in troubles without parental supervision. Unless there are exceptional circumstances where the child has a clear reason for leaving or can still be contacted, it’s advisable to act swiftly to prevent further issues.

Is Your Child a Delinquent? Key Points Parents Should Consider

We’ve discussed how detective investigations can help when a child’s delinquent behavior becomes noticeable. Ideally, you’d want to guide your child back onto the right path before any major troubles arise.

To prevent your child from becoming delinquent, here are several steps parents can take, viewed from a detective’s perspective who has dealt with numerous family issues. A few changes in approach could transform your parent-child relationship, so consider these tips carefully.

“Freedom to Raise” vs. “Neglect”

You might feel you’ve done a good job raising your child, but still see delinquent behavior. Perhaps you think you’ve made mistakes in parenting or need to be stricter. A common mistake among parents is confusing “allowing freedom” with “neglecting responsibility.”

No matter how strict you are, if your child feels controlled or only satisfies your expectations, it can lead to rebellion. On the other hand, letting your child do whatever they want is equally wrong. The key is to trust your child and treat them as an individual while maintaining your responsibilities as a parent.

Allowing your child some freedom requires being prepared to solve any problems that arise. To prevent your child from feeling stifled, avoid overly rigid curfews or rules. Reflect on how to balance trust and responsibility, which can improve your relationship.

Don’t Interfere in Your Child’s Friendships

Avoid dictating who your child should or shouldn’t be friends with, such as saying, “Don’t hang out with that kid because of their grades,” or “Don’t invite someone without money into our home.” While your child’s friendships can influence their behavior, choosing who to befriend should be their own decision.

However, as mentioned earlier, children rarely maintain trouble-free friendships. If you sense your child is struggling, instead of dictating, try guiding them by asking, “If I were in your position, I would do this—what do you think?” This encourages them to consider better choices without feeling controlled.

Don’t Offer Advice Until Your Child Seeks It

It’s natural to want to comment on your child’s actions or friendships, but refrain from doing so unless your child comes to you first. Unsolicited advice or outdated opinions can feel intrusive.

Remember, as a parent, your true intention is to protect and worry about your child. While your child may not always understand or appreciate your concerns, it’s important to hold back until they ask for guidance. Children have less life experience and are still developing, so be patient and avoid dismissing their feelings. By trusting your child and treating them as an individual, you help them grow responsibly, preventing delinquent behavior.