NCJ Number
121436
Date Published
1989
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Most juvenile delinquency in Sweden, considered a social rather than a criminal problem, consists of crimes committed for fun and togetherness with others in the same age group.
Abstract
Teenage criminality is part of the socialization process of the majority of young boys. The Swedish concept of juvenile criminality does not include the status offences (acts committed by juveniles which would be legal if committed by adults), encompassed by the English term "juvenile delinquency," which is used in this publication to indicate the Swedish concept of juvenile criminality. Juvenile delinquency is considered as a predictor of early death from accident, illness, suicide, or drugs, or of encountering serious problems later in life. Progressive criminality and social background in the life of a juvenile delinquent as well as legislation and the judicial system in Sweden are discussed. As juvenile crime is considered a social problem, the social authorities are responsible for reaction in a cooperative mode involving the juvenile, his parents, and the authorities. Coercive measures are prohibited by the Social Services Act, 1982. Social controls, however, are becoming more formal due to the public's demand for greater effectiveness in the fight against crime. 8 diagrams, 42 references.