NCJ Number
194423
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 187-213
Date Published
May 2002
Length
27 pages
Annotation
Using recently available data, this paper outlines the current trends and patterns of juvenile offending in Russia, as well as related social problems that likely both contribute to and are influenced by delinquent youth.
Abstract
The article begins with an overview of the social and economic difficulties in post-Soviet Russia, including brief discussions of the economy, family life, education, leisure activities, alcohol and drug use, and the juvenile justice system. It then describes patterns of juvenile delinquency in the country, including overall trends, patterns of different types of crimes, and the characteristics of the youth arrested for these offenses. The analysis of the data concludes that the short-term outlook for juvenile crime in Russia is bleak. Although official data show a decrease in arrest rates for a few years during the mid-1990's, there were again slight increases in 1998 and 1999. Further, arrest rates for administrative offenses continued to increase throughout the decade. Although recent indicators suggest that Russia's economy is improving, it will be many years before the transition is complete and the country experiences a true economic recovery. In the meantime, problems associated with the family, education, viable job opportunities, and affordable leisure activities will continue for youth. Given the increased supply and stressful conditions that might fuel demand, it is also likely that drug use and abuse will continue to increase, and the perennial problem with alcohol abuse in the country shows no sign of abating. These conditions suggest that rates of juvenile delinquency in Russia will remain high, further overburdening a justice system that has no true separate component for juveniles. 1 table, 6 figures, 11 notes, and 72 references