RESUMO
The objective is to identify the prevalence of child abuse and criminal behavior among young male prisoners in Ecuador. METHOD: A total of 425 young people between 12 and 18 years of age, deprived of liberty from different centers for adolescent offenders in Ecuador, were used. The level of abuse to which they had been subjected in childhood was evaluated, as well as the risk factors present in their history. The relationship between abuse, risk factors, and criminal behavior was analyzed. RESULTS: A high prevalence of the different types of abuse was found in the mean age of 15.03 years standard deviation (SD = 1.34). CONCLUSION: In addition, a relationship was discovered between the abuse suffered during childhood and the risk factors present in criminal behavior during adolescence, which was demonstrated in this article. The practical implications of these results are discussed, taking into consideration their relevance for prevention.