JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN THE USSR (UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS)

• NCJ Number: 48993
• Author(s): E E GAGNE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION, THE COUNCIL FOR EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN (55TH, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, APRIL 11-15, 1977)

Annotation

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DELINQUENCY IN THE U.S. AND THE U.S.S.R. ARE REVIEWED, SOVIET PREVENTION MEASURES ARE DESCRIBED, AND A THREEFOLD APPROACH TO TREATMENT FOR THE PROBLEM IN BOTH COUNTRIES IS EXPLAINED.

Abstract

MOST INCARCERATED SOVIET YOUTHS, AGED 16 TO 18, ARE INSTITUTIONALIZED FOR ALCOHOL ABUSE. IN THE U.S., HOWEVER, MOST DELINQUENT BOYS ARE ADJUDICATED FOR THEFTS, WHILE GIRLS ARE MORE FREQUENTLY RUNAWAYS. YOUTHS IN THE SOVIET UNION ARE MORE INHIBITED THAN THEIR AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL CONTROLS, AND MANY OF THEIR DELINQUENCY PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BOREDOM. SOVIET OFFICIALS HAVE SOUGHT TO ALLEVIATE THIS BY ESTABLISHING YOUNG PIONEER HOUSES WHICH PROVIDE AFTER-SCHOOL AND HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS. SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND TEACHERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ACT AS A SECOND FAMILY TO YOUNG PEOPLE. WHEN A YOUTH GETS INTO TROUBLE, BOTH THE CHILD'S FAMILY AND SCHOOL ARE NOTIFIED; MANY SOCIAL FORCES ARE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THE DELINQUENT, INCLUDING CENSURE FROM THE TRADE UNION, THE SCHOOL FACULTY AND THE STUDENT BODY ITSELF. WHEN YOUNG CHILDREN GET INTO TROUBLE, THE CHILD'S FAMILY IS CENSURED. THE PARENTS ARE OFTEN FINED BY THE COURTS FOR DAMAGES INCURRED BY THE STUDENT. CHILDREN WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS ARE SEEN BY CLINICS THAT PRESCRIBE VARIOUS MEDICATIONS, AND WORK WITH THE FAMILY AS WELL AS THE CHILD. TELEVISION PROGRAMMING IN THE SOVIET UNION IS NOT VIOLENCE-ORIENTED. IT IS INSTRUCTIONAL AND NOT THOUGHT TO BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR IN JUVENILE BEHAVIOR. THE RECIDIVISM RATE IN THE U.S. IS ABOUT 70 PERCENT, BUT ONLY 17 PERCENT IN THE U.S.S.R. THE THREEFOLD APPROACH TO DELINQUENCY THAT IS USED BOTH IN THE U.S. AND THE U.S.S.R., THOUGH MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE U.S.S.R., INVOLVES INTENSIVE REMEDIAL EDUCATION, GROUP COUNSELING, AND JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT. THE ADOLESCENTS IN SOVIET CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES EXERCISE A TYPE OF SELF-GOVERNANCE WHICH IS HEADED BY THOSE INMATES WHO BEST REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL VALUES. THE SOVIETS ALSO USE DIALYSIS, A BLOOD PURIFICATION METHOD, TO TREAT THEIR DELINQUENTS. IT IS NOTED THAT THE MEDICAL MODEL AS AN APPROACH TO DELINQUENCY RECEIVES GREATER EMPHASIS IN THE U.S.S.R. THAN IN THE U.S. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JSP)