NCJ Number
49714
Journal
BRA - APROPA Issue: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 3-10
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME ARE NOT NECESSARILY CORRELATED, BUT THEY TEND TO REINFORCE ONE ANOTHER. UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG SWEDISH YOUTH (40,000 YOUTH WERE JOBLESS IN 1970) AND JUVENILE CRIME ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE TERM UNEMPLOYMENT IS DEFINED AS 'NO MEANINGFUL WORK OR RESPONSIBILITIES'. MANY SWEDISH CHILDREN FIND SCHOOL WORK MEANINGLESS OR DIFFICULT AND REACT TO THESE FEELINGS BY GIVING UP. IT IS THIS GROUP OF JUVENILES WHO LEAVE SCHOOL AS SOON AS THEY ARE ABLE, AND, BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW EDUCATIONAL STATUS, FIND IT DIFFICULT TO FIND JOBS. THIS GROUP IS NOT INSURED AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT, CANNOT ACT COLLECTIVELY IN RELATION TO EMPLOYER'S, AND USUALLY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME OR POSSESSIONS THAT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE SUCH AS HOUSES, YARDS, OR CARS. THIS GROUP OF JUVENILES GENERALLY HAVE LITTLE TO DO AND ARE FINANCIALLY DEPENDENT. IF THESE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH BEGIN USING ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, THEIR NEED FOR MONEY INCREASES AND THEY ARE LIKELY TO COMMIT SMALL PROPERTY CRIMES TO SUPPORT THESE HABITS. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THIS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR, REDUCES THEIR CHANCES OF BEING EMPLOYED. THESE JUVENILES SPEND A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS PARKS AND PUBLIC STREETS. THEIR RISK OF COMING INTO CONFLICT WITH LAWS IS THUS INCREASED AND THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET CAUGHT FOR ANY DEVIANT BEHAVIOR THAN PERSONS COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS IN PRIVATE PLACES. TRADITIONAL JOBS FOR YOUTH, SUCH AS MESSENGER AND APPRENTICE WORK, ARE SCARCE AND THE 1974 LAW PROTECTING WORKERS FROM INDISCRIMINATE FIRING MAKES EMPLOYERS MORE CAREFUL IN THEIR HIRING PRACTICES. THEY ARE HESITANT TO HIRE YOUTH THAT HAVE NO WORK EXPERIENCE OR PROVEN WORK HABITS. YOUTH REACTIONS TO DIFFICULTIES IN PROCURING EMPLOYMENT INCLUDE FEELINGS OF ISOLATION, HELPLESSNESS, ALIENATION, AND FRUSTRATION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.--IN SWEDISH.(DAG)