Abstract
The article presents a sociological and criminological analysis of data on registered youth criminal offences (young people of 14-29 years old) in Klaipėda. The analysed period covers the years from 2005 to 2019 (late post-Soviet period). It includes youth crime offences and persons suspected of committing a crime. The period is characterised by a constant downward trend in crime. There were no substantial changes in criminal law during this period, however, Lithuania significantly strengthened the legal and material background for work with juveniles and young adults. On the basis of the insights of the theories of anomie, social control and ecological criminology, the article analyses the key indicators of youth crime and its dynamics. The changes by age and employment of persons who have allegedly committed criminal offences are analysed.
Highlights
One of the traditional sociological hypotheses is that radical social change is often accompanied by anomie (Durkheim, 1897; Cullen & Agnew, 2003)
Attention has to be paid to the fact that during this period the juvenile delinquency in Klaipėda has decreased by 48 percent, and the numbers of crimes committed by young adults – by 64 percent
In 2005, minors and young adults accounted for 63.9 % of all persons suspected of committing a crime, while in 2019 this age group shrank to 36.1 %
Summary
One of the traditional sociological hypotheses is that radical social change is often accompanied by anomie (Durkheim, 1897; Cullen & Agnew, 2003). Compared to the year 2005, the number of crimes committed by young people in 2019 fell by 65 percent This fact seems to confirm our initial hypothesis that the decline in youth crime is due to the demographic contraction of this group. Attention has to be paid to the fact that during this period the juvenile delinquency in Klaipėda has decreased by 48 percent, and the numbers of crimes committed by young adults – by 64 percent. This means that the dynamics of crime among young adults can be explained by demographic processes, as the rates of decline are more or less the same for both group size and crime. This percentage has been steadily declining in the following years
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