Official Crime Statistics and Survey Data: Comparing Trends of Youth Violence Between 2000 and 2006 in Cities of the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Russia, and Slovenia

• NCJ Number: 232011
• Journal: European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 191-205
• Author(s): Dirk Enzmann; Zuzana Podana
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study compared youth trends and attitudes towards violence and changes of victimization experiences between 1999 and 2006 across countries.

Abstract

Based on official crime statistics, violent crimes of youths in Germany and Central and Eastern Europe had appeared to have increased considerably between 1990 and 2000. Survey data that can overcome limitations of police data and allow to compare crime trends across countries are rare. Based on self-report delinquency studies of 15 year old juveniles in 1998-2001 (SRD) and 2006 (ISRD-2) using compatible questionnaires in Germany and Central and Eastern Europe (partly in the same cities), trends of attitudes towards violence, of victimization experiences and self-reported wanton and instrumental violence are compared cross-nationally. There is substantially less approval of violence in 2006 and a corresponding decrease of victimization experiences and violent behavior between 1999 and 2006. Official crime statistics show serious limitations. The results are discussed with respect to theories of modernization and social change. Table, figures, appendix, and references (Published Abstract)