Adolescents have been an important focus of interest of social sciences. This interest has included criminological study since this age and social group is one from which a considerable number of delinquents are recruited. Young people also tend to be victims of crime. Socio-psychological explanations of risks affecting young people are mostly focused on the negative social and cultural factors that aggravate successful transition to adulthood. Adulthood itself represents the highest risk for the young. Playing socially expected adult roles, such as parent or consumer, implies a shortening of the individual’s capacity for self-determination, self-government of oneself, and the free formation of oneself as a subject. Maturing persons of both sexes are more and more aware of this fact. A number of relatively important signals indicate the prolongation of youth and a rejection of certain aspects of normal adulthood. Victimology has not been interested in various forms of structural victimization that could threaten the individual’s opportunities/capacities for self-determination and affect his or her most vital welfare. This most important dimension of this kind of victimization threatens more or less a majority of people in their everyday life. 20 references