Direito e literatura: uma abordagem acerca do menor infrator sob a ótica da criminologia, a partir do romance “Capitães da Areia”

Abstract

This work presents an interdisciplinary analysis between Law and Literature, using Jorge Amado's novel *Captains of the Sands* as a basis, to discuss juvenile delinquency and the social factors that contribute to its formation. The research starts from the perspective that Law can be understood and humanized through literature, as argued by Lenio Streck, who recognizes in literary narratives the capacity to articulate fiction and reality. Jorge Amado's work reveals the vulnerable situation of children and adolescents in conflict with the law, highlighting that juvenile delinquency does not stem from an individual predisposition, but from social factors such as poverty, exclusion, and state omission. From the perspective of critical criminology, the study analyzes the causes that lead young people to crime, the performance of the Brazilian legal system, and the shortcomings of social reintegration programs. The research is based on a literature review and a theoretical and comparative approach between the legal treatment and the literary representation of marginalized childhood, seeking to contribute to a more humane and socially sensitive understanding of juvenile delinquency.