SOCIETY AND THE YOUNG OFFENDERS - REPORT FROM A RESEARCH PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 64319
• Author(s): U ERIKSSON; J SARNECKI
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 118 pages
• Corporate Author: Brottsforebyggande Radet
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Country: Sweden
• Note: AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY NCJRS. SPECIFY NCJ 78594.

Annotation

A 4-YEAR SWEDISH STUDY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE SOCIETY'S REACTION TO JUVENILE CRIME AND THE EFFECT OF THIS REACTION ON JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

Abstract

RESEARCH METHODS INCLUDED LITERATURE REVIEWS, TWO STUDIES OF ONE STOCKHOLM SUBURB'S EXPERIENCE WITH JUVENILE CRIME AND THE SUBURB'S REACTION SYSTEM, AND OBSERVATIONS OF A NUMBER OF EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS IN DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. IN ADDITION, JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS IN THE SOVIET UNION, POLAND, THE UNITED STATES, AND DENMARK WERE EXAMINED, AND A LARGE NUMBER OF SWEDISH OFFICIALS AND PERSONNEL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, RESEARCH BUREAUS, AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE INTERVIEWED. THE CASE STUDY OF THE STOCKHOLM SUBURB SHOWED THAT MOST CHILD OFFENDERS ARE MALES BETWEEN 15 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE, AND THEY COMMIT LARCENY. MANY ARE FOREIGN. POLICE ARREST THE OFFENDER AND REFER THE CASE TO THE CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION. THE MAJOR FORM OF REACTION FOR ALL RESPONDING AGENCIES WAS TO TALK TO THE YOUTH, SOMETIMES, IN CONJUNCTION WITH HIS PARENTS, TO DISCUSS REASONS, SANCTIONS, AND POSSIBLE STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING FUTURE DELINQUENCY. A SIGNIFICANT FINDING WAS THAT NONE OF THE RESPONDING AGENCIES HAD A SYSTEM OF REGULAR AND CONSTRUCTIVE INTERACTION WITH THE REMAINING RESPONDING AGENCIES. THEREFORE, A TROUBLED FAMILY OR DELINQUENT YOUTH WOULD PROBABLY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A NUMBER OF THESE AGENCIES, BUT NO ONE AGENCY WOULD MONITOR THE FAMILY'S OR YOUTH'S PROGRESS. SYSTEMS IN DENMARK AND THE SOVIET UNION HAD AGENCY INTERACTION, AND THIS SEEMED TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT PREVENTION EFFORTS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CENTRALIZING AND INTEGRATING THESE AGENCIES ARE PRESENTED. A SINGLE CONTACT PERSON FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS BEING SERVICED BY SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IS SUGGESTED. OTHER TOPICS COVERED ARE THE NEED FOR POLICE REGISTRATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS, DELAY BETWEEN ARREST AND CASE RESOLUTION, AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES VERSUS JUVENILES' RIGHT TO PRIVACY AND VULNERABILITY TO LABELING. --IN SWEDISH. (DAG)