NCJ Number
46898
Journal
CURRENT SWEDEN Issue: 154 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
INCIDENCE, LEGAL MANAGEMENT, AND SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS OF CHILD AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN SWEDEN ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED.
Abstract
AS IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAS SHOWN A CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN THE PAST 50 YEARS, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE 15-TO 20-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP. OFFENSES COMMITTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PRIMARILY PROPERTY OFFENSES; VIOLENT OFFENSES CONSTITUTE ONLY ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY 15- TO 17-YEAR-OLD YOUTHS AND 10 PERCENT OF THOSE COMMITED OF 18 TO 20 YEARS OLDS. SELF-REPORTED DELINQUENCY AMONG YOUTH INDICATES THAT ALMOST EVERY CHILD COMMITS SOME OFFENSE BETWEEN 7 AND 16 YEARS OF AGE. GIRLS COMMIT SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER OFFENSES THAN BOYS, AND SHOPLIFTING IS THE OFFENSE MOST FREQUENTLY COMMITTED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT SELF-REPORTED OFFENSES ARE SO COMMON, ONLY ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF THE MALE JUVENILE POPULATION HAS EVER BEEN THE OBJECT OF POLICE INVESTIGATION. IN SWEDEN, THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY IS 15; THOSE JUVENILES UNDER 15 SUSPECTED OF AN OFFENSE BECOME THE OBJECT OF INQUIRY OF THE CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE. INQUIRIES FOCUS ON THE CHILD'S ADJUSTMENT AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS, AND A SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER VISITS THE HOME AND SOMETIMES THE SCHOOL TO OBTAIN FURTHER INFORMATION. ON THE BASIS OF THIS INFORMATION RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE FOR ACTIONS WHICH MAY INCLUDE NO ACTION, A WARNING, PREVENTIVE MEASURES, OR PLACEMENT IN A FOSTER OR REMAND HOME. JUVENILES OVER 15 YEARS OF AGE ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAY BE PROSECUTED FOR OFFENSES. IN MOST CASES, JUVENILES BETWEEN 15 AND 18 ARE SELDOM PROSECUTED OR SENTENCED, BEING MORE USUALLY PLACED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE. ALTHOUGH THE RATE OF DELINQUENCY HAS BEEN INCREASING, THE RESPONSE TO JUVENILE CRIME HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY LENIENT IN THE PAST DECADE. SWEDISH INVESTIGATIONS INTO FACTORS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY INDICATE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS, EARLY AND CONTINUING DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL, BREAKDOWN IN THE FAMILY AND LACK OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION, AND IMPULSIVE AND ACTING-OUT BEHAVIORS. ONLY A WEAK RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILIAL SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY HAS BEEN FOUND. ADDITIONAL STUDIES OF PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT INDICATE THAT SELF-CONTROLLED, INHIBITED, AND INTELLIGENT JUVENILES TEND TO SHOW BETTER ADULT ADJUSTMENT THAN THEIR IMPULSIVE PEERS. ADDITIONAL FACTORS WHICH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PREVALENCE OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN SWEDEN INCLUDE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND URBANIZATION WITH THE CONCOMITANT BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP BONDS AND REDUCED SOCIAL CONTROL, INCREASED WELFARE, INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF GOODS AND TEMPTATIONS, LATE ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF YOUTH, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ISOLATED AND NEW FAMILY STRUCTURES. (JAP)