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JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN THE SOVIET UNION

NCJ Number
52986
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 58 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUTUMN-WINTER 1978) Pages: 18-30
Author(s)
P JUVILER; B E FORSCHNER
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, ITS CAUSES, AND ITS HANDLING IN THE SOVIET UNION ARE ADDRESSED.
Abstract
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS ESPECIALLY PREVALENT IN LARGE CITIES SUCH AS MOSCOW, LENINGRAD, AND KIEV. SMALL GANGS OF YOUTH 'HANG OUT' AROUND TOURIST HOTELS READY TO DEAL FOR FOREIGN GOODS. NO DETAILED NATIONAL DATA ARE AVAILABLE ON THE NUMBER OF DELINQUENTS, BUT ESTIMATES RUN FROM 5 TO 15 PERCENT OF TOTAL CRIME. THIS TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE FACT THAT ONE-THIRD TO ONE-HALF OF JUVENILE CASES ARE DROPPED OR HANDED OVER TO COMMISSIONS ON JUVENILE AFFAIRS. JUVENILE STATUS OFFENSES FAR OUTWEIGH CRIMES. THEFT AND GROUP VIOLENCE APPEAR TO BE THE MAJOR TYPES OF OFFENSES. TWO TYPES OF FACTORS, LONG-TERM CAUSES AND SHORT-TERM CONDITIONS, ARE CITED AS CONTRIBUTING TO DELINQUENCY. SPECIFIC CAUSES IDENTIFIED MOST FREQUENTLY ARE BAD FAMILY INFLUENCES, DELINQUENT PEER GROUPS, UNEMPLOYMENT, COINCIDENCES OF UNFAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES, BOOKS AND FILMS, AND BOURGEOIS PROPAGANDA. CONDITIONS IN THE DAILY LIVES OF TEENAGERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO DELINQUENCY AND CRIME INCLUDE LACK OF SUPERVISION, FAILURE OF SCHOOLS TO DEAL WITH TRUANTS OR REPEATERS, LAPSES IN JOB PLACEMENT BY INADEQUATE SOCIAL AGENCIES, LACK OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND INADEQUATE LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOVIET REFORMERS SINCE STALIN HAVE TRIED TO PROMOTE GENERAL PREVENTION MEASURES AIMED AT SOCIAL CONDITIONS. THESE REFORMERS HAVE NUDGED SOVIET CRIMINAL POLICY AWAY FROM STALIN'S ALMOST PURELY PUNITIVE APPROACH TO DEALING WITH JUVENILES. THE APPROACH IN SPECIAL PREVENTION HAS BEEN TO RELY ON A SUPPORTIVE AND SANCTIONING NETWORK OF SOCIAL AGENCIES ENCOMPASSING DELINQUENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. COMMISSIONS FOR JUVENILE AFFAIRS ARE MORE CENTRAL TO DEALING WITH JUVENILES THAN COMRADES COURTS. SINCE THE 1950'S, JUVENILE PROCEDURES HAVE MORE EXTENSIVELY EMPLOYED JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, AND INVESTIGATORS WHO SPECIALIZE IN JUVENILE CASES. CONVICTED JUVENILES BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE ARE SENT TO EDUCATIONAL LABOR COLONIES. MASS LEGAL EDUCATION WAS INAUGURATED BY PRIME MINISTER BREZHNEV IN 1970. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SOVIET EXPERIENCE FOR THE UNITED STATES ARE DISCUSSED. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)