NCJ Number
180176
Date Published
1999
Length
108 pages
Annotation
This report is based on self-report surveys of Finnish 9th grade students that were carried out in 1995, 1996, and 1998 as part of a process of developing and establishing a standardized indicator system on juvenile delinquency and school safety.
Abstract
Schools were selected from a register of Finnish-language municipal schools as a random cluster sample, with geographic area and community population density as stratification criteria. The Finnish Self-Report Delinquency Study questionnaire included 18 offenses, 16 of which were measured in all three surveys with identical questions. The prevalence of violence against persons and property appeared to decrease over the period. The prevalence of stealing at school significantly decreased. A slight decrease was noted in the proportion of students who committed offenses at least five times. The percentage of students who did not commit any offenses during their lifetime rose, and the proportion of students who did not commit any offenses during the last year also increased. The incidence of violent acts among those who engaged in violence at least once during the last year was higher in 1998 than 2 years earlier. Both male and female violence against persons increased. Overall, findings revealed juvenile delinquency became more polarized over the survey period. The number of young people who completely refrained from criminal activity increased, and the attitudes of young people toward delinquent behavior became less tolerant. At the same time, the incidence of interpersonal violence increased among adolescents who participated in violence. References, tables, and figures