The causes and conditions of juvenile delinquency and youth crime are a relevant contemporary topic. Sociologists, forensic scientists and political scientists, specialists in working with the younger generation and experts in the field of the legal system are engaged in it. Only knowing the causes of the phenomenon, you can develop an effective method of dealing with it.
Relevance of the issue
Before considering the state and causes of juvenile delinquency, it is necessary to understand the essence of the term. It is customary to understand it as criminal acts committed in society by citizens whose age varies between 14-18 years. Such people have reached a sufficient level of socialization, they are persistent and independent, can control themselves, and control their actions. However, the process of socialization has not yet been completed, the individual continues to develop and adapt, undergoes a training program, realizes his place in society and accumulates experience in relations with other representatives of society.
The causes of juvenile delinquency considered in research papers are primarily social factors. Focusing among them, you can develop a program to adjust the situation. You should not expect that the implementation of any project will immediately bear fruit - in the best case, the situation will change in years and decades, but a longer time period is also possible.
About factors
The main causes of juvenile delinquency are thought to be social factors. These are usually divided into macro, micro. Macro - the society in which the individual lives, its historical foundations and culture, traditions and morality, rules and morality, the difficulties associated with the economy and political component. Microfactors - a group associated with the environment of the individual. These are close people (friends and relatives), as well as colleagues and people with whom he studies.
As sociological studies aimed at identifying the causes of increased crime among minors show that young people are currently prone to imbalance and overly categorical opinions. Many teenagers are quick-tempered and cannot correctly assess the current situation, given all the important factors and circumstances. The main percentage of criminal acts is committed by a group, and the motives are usually hooliganism, self-interest, the desire to become more authoritative, anger and a sense of false partnership. Such acts are characterized by increased cruelty and insolence.
Question Features
In the framework of sociological, legal, and political projects developed by specialists, the causes of juvenile delinquency are considered in the context of the fact that the phenomena themselves are an integral part of criminal acts in general. In this case, the issue under consideration has unique features, due to which teenage crime can be distinguished from the rest.
The attention of specialists is focused on violating the rules and laws, asocial actions committed by persons aged 14-18 years. Such actions are dangerous for society, and the criminals themselves are bold and sophisticated. Analysis of the action shows a high level of preparedness.
By systematizing and summarizing the currently known information, analytical work on this issue, it is possible to develop crime prevention measures. For this, it is important not only to hold meetings of scientists from various fields of science, but also to study public opinion. The main task is to develop ways to prevent asocial processes.
Reasons: personality and its features
The main causes of juvenile delinquency are personal characteristics of representatives of this age group. However, social disadvantages that create a comfortable environment for illegal acts are no less important. Teenagers are nihilistic, and even calm, outwardly outwardly people inside are often filled with violent emotions. It is typical for the stronger sex to hide awkwardness and shyness, timidity behind deliberate rudeness.
A feature of intelligence also plays a role. Scientists believe that in recent years there has been a sharp decrease in intellectual abilities. About 70% of all students have violations in the genotype. According to studies, accented personalities show up to 40% of the total population, but among adolescents they account for a larger number. All this provokes hooligan acts and mercenary crimes, sexual aggression.
Social factors
Most briefly, the causes of juvenile delinquency are outlined in criminological works published in the past few years. Experts are of the opinion that the main cause of the phenomenon, as well as the factor stimulating its growth, is a poor economic situation, as well as social tension. Teenagers do not have the ability to legitimately satisfy their own needs, which forces them to look for alternative ways, to obtain the desired products, objects in the way it turns out. Often the only real method for them seems to be the commission of a criminal act. Practice shows that among, for example, those involved in racketeering, the percentage of adolescents is especially high. They are active in illegal areas of entrepreneurship and other similar types of criminal acts.
However, the cause of juvenile delinquency in Russia is the problem with the organization of leisure time for minors. Institutions, organizations that previously dealt with these issues are currently closed, and not every family can afford to send a child to a commercial school.
The environment and its effects
Considering the concept and causes of juvenile delinquency, one should not lose sight of the influence of the family and the immediate environment. In recent years, the problem of family dysfunction has become increasingly relevant. This is affected by the lack of money in families, the forced struggle with the need for everyday life, the degradation of both individuals and social groups. All this leads to dire consequences and affects the younger generation.
Among immigrants from dysfunctional families, the percentage convicted of criminal acts is especially high. The reasons for the increase in juvenile delinquency in this situation are the drunkenness and drug addiction inherent in family members, as well as the lack of culture and morality. Cases of prostitution are frequent, and people are rude to each other and allow violence. This applies not only to relationships between adults, but also to interactions with children. Scientists estimate that parental arbitrariness annually in our country is the cause of damage to about 2 million children under the age of 14. Every tenth case ends fatally. About 2,000 do not withstand such conditions and commit suicide. The likelihood of teenage violent crimes, as well as acts committed by children, is growing: out of cruelty, only cruelty grows. Often, adolescents do not even realize how such behavior is unnatural for a cultured person.
Factors: versatile
The causes of juvenile delinquency in Russia are not only the internal characteristics of adolescents or the social environment, but also the shortcomings of the system of our society. In particular, there are bodies in whose area of responsibility it is to prevent such events and to combat them. Currently, their efficiency is relatively low. Moreover, many structures, in general, do not show any result, do not carry out educational work, do not conduct crime prevention. Normally, illegal accomplishments should be prevented by the joint efforts of commissions dedicated to adolescent affairs, as well as bodies protecting their rights, social protective structures and institutions responsible for ensuring health, education and employment.
Speaking about the causes and conditions of juvenile delinquency, one cannot ignore the work of the law enforcement system. The structures responsible for maintaining order in society do not sufficiently disclose and prevent unlawful acts. There are problems with the investigation and even the fact of revealing the crime. Such difficulties exist in relation to misconduct committed by persons of different age groups, but with respect to juvenile delinquency the problem is especially widespread.
Is it possible to warn?
Just knowing the causes and conditions of juvenile delinquency is not enough - you must be able to put them into practice in such a way as to reduce the number of unlawful acts. In general, the principles for preventing events are approximately the same as for any other crimes, but there are individual characteristics related to the age group of the target group and the specifics of the actions characteristic of it.
Crime can be prevented only by the joint efforts of different structures and entities working in combination. A warning system should be formed taking into account the main causes of juvenile delinquency (those listed above). It is important that social protection and guardianship agencies, educational institutions and health care, board of trustees and the employment service, law enforcement agencies and specializing in working with young people work together.
Need rehabilitation!
One of the methods to reduce the number of crimes among young people is to refer those in need to institutions specializing in social rehabilitation. The programs of such organizations are developed taking into account the main causes of juvenile delinquency, therefore (in theory) the effectiveness of being in such a structure should be relatively high. Unfortunately, in practice this system is not as effective as we would like. Currently, projects are being developed to improve it.
One of the main structures is the social rehabilitation centers responsible for preventing neglect. If adolescents are faced with difficult situations, they can contact a similar institution where they will help with the conditions for rehabilitation. Another significant category of institutions is social shelters in which those in need can live indefinitely. There are also organized conditions for rehabilitation, which is especially important for those who need social assistance urgently.
In our country there are centers for helping children, aimed at combating the causes of juvenile delinquency. These institutions work with children without parental control. At such cents, children can live for a while, and then the staff will help the teenager get a job in life, get an education and vocational guidance.
Present and future
Analyzing the causes of juvenile delinquency, the government decided to introduce a new social program. Opens a new type of institutions designed to serve the community. These are the so-called territorial centers aimed at helping both families and children separately. Recently, psychological and pedagogical centers have appeared, whose task is to work with the population, as well as centers in which they can urgently provide psychological assistance to those in need.
Since the causes of juvenile delinquency are a problem for the whole society, it is logical that such institutions are opened by the state, although there are private ones along with them. There are organizations whose work is provided by state subsidies, donations from caring citizens of our country and other powers, legal entities. In recent decades, charitable organizations have become widespread, the purpose of which is to work with children and adolescents to ensure a healthy future for the nation.
Work harmoniously
The elimination of the causes of juvenile delinquency (at least partially) is possible only with the joint work of all structures in contact with this age group of the population. In order for departments and institutions to work together, actions are coordinated by a special commission established under the Government. Organization of mutual work is entrusted to the heads of commissions - representatives of the executive branch. In the districts, cities, districts, through the capabilities of local self-government structures, services have been formed that provide assistance and services to adolescents in need of rehabilitation. This also includes special institutions where educational, educational work (open) is practiced, and closed, designed to correct the behavior of persons who have committed a dangerous act or have significant developmental disabilities.
Crime prevention issues unite various entities that differ in functionality and scope of capabilities. In the general case, they speak of non-specialized, specialized authorities whose work is aimed at preventing unlawful acts by adolescents.
And if in more detail?
Non-specialized institutions - public organizations, social movements, political, religious and other groups. This includes more traditional forms - committees at houses, streets and neighborhoods, associations of parents and trustees. A number of issues are quite successfully resolved in orphanages, centers of social, psychological, medical care. New actors are actively developing that are aimed at crime prevention - foundations, centers and committees, shelters and social, medical, rehabilitation centers, created specifically to help adolescents suffering from addictions. At the same time, it is noted that the intensity of the work of non-specialized institutions is currently lower than we would like, and many institutions that have worked successfully earlier have ceased to exist due to social instability or are reprofiling. Nevertheless, the importance of this sector cannot be underestimated.
Specialized institutions are aimed at combating the commission of crimes among different age groups, including children and adolescents. The bulk of these institutions are state entities, the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
About prevention and improvement
For the system of crime prevention to work more efficiently, it is necessary to practice more humanistic preventive practice, that is, measures to protect the population should be stronger than coercive, as well as punishment. Educational, preventive, protective work should be carried out with the involvement of professionals, for which it is important to train social workers, teachers and psychologists who would specialize specifically in children with disabilities and growing up in difficult situations. The task of such personnel is to improve the conditions of upbringing, social and family life, and to correct the behavior of the wards.
In order for preventive measures to be more effective, it is necessary to place a greater emphasis on providing psychological assistance and medical support to adolescents whose development and behavior deviate from the generally accepted norm. Minors who are characterized by maladaptation (social, mental) need rehabilitation, otherwise the likelihood of unlawful acts by this contingent is growing. At the same time, the state should recognize that the main institution of socialization for the younger generation is the family. Therefore, it is with her that you need to work to minimize social risk. It is important to provide assistance to social cells: social, psychological.
Prevention of crime among adolescents involves limiting the competence of various bodies and structures, associations. Although all of them should clearly interact and participate in the implementation of a common policy, state plan, preventive and educational work should be separated from each other, and the powers of the authorities cannot overlap.
Note!
Bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - a structure that has a special responsibility in the issue of preventing and punishing income in a teenage environment. Correctional and educational work is entrusted to them, and the contingent is the person who has already committed an illegal act. . , . – , .
The bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are responsible for influencing the conditions and causes of crime among teenagers, as well as for influencing those at risk for committing such acts. The internal affairs authorities are charged with working with anti-socially directed communities that commit illegal acts or may do so. Particular attention is paid to those in which there are teenagers. The task of law enforcement agencies is to prevent the contingent in order to prevent crime.
Currently, the most significant issues are not only the determination and clarification of the reasons for minors committing unlawful acts, but also the impact on the individual in order to prevent such acts.