Batara, J. B. L., Rule, K. M.A. L., Bontilao, C. A. P., Montederamos, M. G. P., and McCarthy, B. P. D. University of the Visayas Journal of Research 89 Date Received: 5th of April, 2016 Date Accepted: 13th of April, 2016 ABSTRACT Aspirations provide a driving force for people to achieve what they want in life. The researchers aimed to explore the aspirations of children in conflict with the law, being interested to understand how these children aspire in life given the situation that they are in where they are stigmatized in the society. However, studies about aspirations of CICL were limited, so this research explores their intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations. Semi-structured interview was created based on the Aspirations Index. Eleven CICL, ages 9 to 18 years, were interviewed. The researchers found out that they exhibited intrinsic aspirations more saliently than extrinsic aspirations. Aspirations other than suggested in the Aspiration index were also found namely the spiritual and nurturance aspirations. The results imply that CICL still hope to become better individuals. The study provides better understanding on how they plan to live their lives despite having been in conflict with the law. This paper provides a wider perspective for the community towards CICL, and can be used for further studies in relation to aspirations of Children in Conflict with the Law. Keywords: children in conflict with the law (CICL), intrinsic aspirations, extrinsic aspirations I. INTRODUCTION n the development of the human person, children approaching adolescence have needs to grow physically and psychologically. Adolescence is a developmental stage when a child transitions into different changes in the physical, cognitive, emotional and social aspects (Papalia, Feldman & Olds, 2009). However, in making use of these still developing capacities, adolescents and children are less capable than adults in making real-world choices (Scott & Steinberg, 2008). With this and other factors, children may engage in deviant behavior. Deviant behaviors may also be reflected in violating the law. Republic Act 9344 (also known as Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006) and UNICEF (2005) indicate that a child in conflict with the law is an individual (below 18 years old) who is accused as having violated any of the Philippine laws. These violations include minor crimes and property crimes like vagrancy, truancy, alcohol use, 1. ORCID Number: 0000-0003-4649-0976, J. B. L. Batara is with the Department of Psychology, University of San Carlos, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines (e-mail: jblbatara@usc.edu.ph). 2. ORCID Number: 0000-0003-0189-722X, K. M. A. L. Rule is with the Executive Boutique Ph., Cebu City, 6000, Philippines (e-mail: kmalexa.rule@gmail.com). 3. ORCID Number: 0000-0003-4469-0595, C. A. P. Bontilao is from University of San Carlos, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines (e-mail: cristyl_bontilao@yahoo.com). 4. ORCID Number: 0000-0001-8455-5035, M. G. P. Montederamos is studying Bachelor of Law at University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City, 6000, Philippines (email: magina.montederamos@yahoo.com) 5. ORCID Number: 0000-0001-9829-8842, B. P. D. McCarthy is with the NVEC-Cebu, Mandaue City, 6014, Philippines (email: Pauline.cebuhr@gmail.com) and burglary (referred as status offenses). Several factors have been found why children engage in deviant behaviors and even to the extent of committing violations against the law. These include poor child-rearing capacity of parents (Smith & Stern, 1997), less life experience and inefficient information processing (Scott & Steinberg, 2008), and experience of abuse and/or neglect (Kostic, 2013). In the case of CICL, child detention and labelling, as well as creating borders towards their families and the community makes the children have more chances of committing a crime again (UNICEF, 2005). With this, it is a wonder on what could be the factors that can plausibly help these CICL not to violate the law again and ultimately live a flourishing life. In the present study, interviews were conducted to CICL in order to investigate their aspirations in life. This may provide implications on how they and the institutions housing them will be able to address positive change in Intrinsic and extrinsic aspirations of children in conflict with the law Jame Bryan L. Batara 1 , Kriza Mae Alexa L. Rule 2 , Cristyl Ann P. Bontilao 3 , Ma. Gina P. Montederamos 4 , and Bernice Pauline D. McCarthy 5 I