SOCIETY'S REACTION TO JUVENILE CRIME - SWEDEN

• NCJ Number: 59002
• Journal: BRA (BROTTSBOREBYGGANDE RADET) - APROPA Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 21-25
• Author(s): J SARNECKI
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council for Crime Prevention
• Publication Format: Article
• Country: Sweden
• Note: SUMMARY OF A CONFERENCE SPONSORED BY THE SWEDISH CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL, 1978

Annotation

A SUMMARY IS PROVIDED OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND ITS PREVENTION, SPONSORED BY SWEDEN'S CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL.

Abstract

THE CONFERENCE CONTINUED DISCUSSION INTRODUCED BY AN ARTICLE IN THE COUNCIL'S JOURNAL ADDRESSING THE INCREASING PHENOMENON OF JUVENILE CRIME AND RESPONSES BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AMONG THE TOPICS DICUSSED WERE STATISTICS ON JUVENILE CRIME, THE LABELING THEORY, THE PART PLAYED BY CHANGING SOCIAL MORES AND LIFESTYLES IN JUVENILE CRIME, AND THE TENDENCY OF PERSONS TO COMMIT CRIME DURING CERTAIN TEEN YEARS BUT TO CEASE DEVIANT ACTIVITY AS THEY GROW OLDER. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT SOME RESPONSE TO YOUTH CRIME MUST BE MADE BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ORDER TO CHECK ITS GROWTH, BUT DISSENSION AND DOUBT WERE EXPRESSED WHEN THE QUESTION OF THE KIND OF RESPONSE CAME UP. ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION SUCH AS PLACEMENT WITH A FOSTER FAMILY, COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT, AND COUNSELING WERE MENTIONED. PREVENTION AT AN EARLY AGE WAS ANOTHER TOPIC ADDRESSED. ONE SPEAKER OUTLINED SIX PREVENTIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING FOR DEVIANCY FROM NORMS, WITHHOLDING REWARDS FOR NONDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR, AND DOWNGRADING DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. --IN SWEDISH. (DAG)