NCJ Number
78538
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1981) Pages: 29-40
Date Published
1981
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the East German (GDR) juvenile codes defining delinquency, the extent of juvenile and young adult crime in the country, the crime prevention efforts of the society, and the peculiarities of proceedings against juveniles.
Abstract
Juvenile delinquency comprises criminal acts committed by minor offenders capable of guilt between 14 and 18 years of age, as defined by the penal code under culpably committed offenses against the interest of or endangering society. Not covered by the term juvenile delinquency are cases (infrequent in the GDR) of children and juveniles who are difficult to educate, who are neglected, socially or criminally endangered, truant, or runaway. Criminal acts perpetrated by young adults of full age (18-25) are also regarded as juvenile delinquency. Despite the generally downward trend of the overall crime rate, attention is focused on juvenile and young adult crimes because these constitute 50 percent of all criminal acts, predominantly committed by the 18-21 age group. Juvenile (14-18) criminal acts are mostly minor offenses not very injurious to society; only a third of juvenile offenders are taken to court. The first crime preventive step in the GDR is the education of children and juveniles in the comprehensive 10-year educational system. Moral and ideological education is provided by a variety of public and social organizations representing working people's peer groups, which also perform the reeducation of delinquents. Criminal proceedings against juveniles are subject to the same principles of socialist criminal justice as are adult offenders: pursuit of the truth, equality before the law, inviolability of the person, the right to counsel, and independence of the judges. In addition, a number of proceedings take into account the age and social position of the juvenile, with special emphasis on clarifying the capacity of guilt, which is a precondition of juvenile criminal responsibility. Twelve footnotes are provided.