THE SOVIET ALL-UNION RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CRIME ANALYZES THE STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF CRIME IN THE SOVIET UNION. THE INSTITUTE REPORTED THAT THE LEVEL OF CRIME AMONG TEENAGERS 14 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE DOES NOT EXCEED 10 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CRIME IN THE COUNTRY. THE CRIMES THAT WERE COMMITTED BY THIS GROUP OF PERSONS WERE LARGELY OF THE NONSERIOUS NATURE. THE LEVEL OF RECIDIVISM WAS REPORTED AS BEING LESS THAN 18 PERCENT. JUVENILE GANGS DID ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF JUVENILE CRIME, BUT SUCH GROUPS RARELY STAYED IN EXISTENCE FOR MORE THAN 3 MONTHS. JUVENILE CRIME IN URBAN AREAS WAS REPORTED TO BE DECLINING, CONFIRMING THE OPINIONS OF SOVIET CRIMINOLOGISTS WHO BELIEVE THAT THERE NEED NOT BE A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN URBANIZATION AND A RISING CRIME RATE. IT IS FELT THAT THE CRIME RATE CAN BE REGULATED AND NEUTRALIZED BY CONDITIONS OF COMPOSITE PLANNING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY IN THE RAISING OF OBEDIENT CHILDREN IS EMPHASIZED BY THE REGISTRATION OF 'UNFAVORABLE' PARENTS, AND THE REMOVAL OF CHILDREN FROM PARENTS WHO FAIL TO FULFILL THEIR EDUCATIONAL DUTIES TOWARDS THEIR CHILDREN. THE RIGID STATE POLICY CONCERNING THE POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND WEAPONS IS BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABSENCE OF ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THESE MATERIALS. LIKEWISE, THE GOVERNMENT DECREE WHICH PROHIBITS THE RELEASE OF BOOKS AND FILMS PROPAGATING THE ADVENTURES OF CRIMINALS PREVENTS THE INCULCATION OF CYNICAL AND INDIFFERENT STYLES OF BEHAVIOR. THE CORRECT ORGANIZATION OF TEENAGERS' LEISURE TIME IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT TO THE PREVENTION OF JUVENILE CRIME. EVERY CITY DISTRICT IS REPORTED TO HAVE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS. (TWK)