Introduction: Considering the importance of transformational factors in crime prevention, this study compared social maturity, attachment styles, and emotion regulation strategies in normal adolescents and adolescents accused of sexual crimes referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Khorasan Razavi Province. Materials and Methods: The research design is a descriptive causal-comparative type. The research sample consisted of 32 adolescent boys accused of sexual crimes who referred to the Forensic Medicine Department of Khorasan Razavi Province from April to March 2021. 32 non-criminal adolescents were also selected as a comparison group using convenience sampling. Participants answered the Collins and Reed Attachment Styles Questionnaire, Rao Social Maturity Questionnaire, and Gross Emotion Regulation Strategies. Results: The findings showed that normal adolescents compared to accused adolescents had higher scores in social maturity (274.21 vs. 132.53) and secure attachment style. In contrast, accused adolescents reported higher levels of avoidant (17.87 vs. 6. 68) and anxiety styles (18.65 vs. 6.65). The independent samples t-test results revealed significant differences in social maturity (t = 16.79, p < 0.001) and attachment styles, including closeness (t = 13.57, p <0.001), dependence (t = -14.88, p < 0.001), and anxiety (t = -16.28, p < 0.001). Groups differed significantly in reappraisal strategies (t = 2.10, p = 0.039) but not in suppression strategies (t = -1.01, p = 0.316). Conclusion: These results emphasize that enhancing social maturity, fostering secure attachment, and teaching emotion regulation skills especially cognitive reappraisal can be highly effective in prevention and psychological interventions for at-risk adolescents.

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