This article introduces drug data resources in Hong Kong, with a critical review of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA). It begins by examining the evolution of drug policies from prohibition to rehabilitation, highlighting the contributions of various agencies in data collection. By analyzing academic articles that cite the CRDA from 2010 to 2023, we argue that while the CRDA is recognized for its comprehensive demographic data, it also faces limitations, including underreporting and a lack of detailed information on factors associated with drug use. Despite these challenges, the CRDA remains the most comprehensive official source of drug-related data in Hong Kong, providing valuable insights for researchers and policymakers. To enhance its reliability and applicability, we recommend cross-disciplinary validation of the data, establishing a robust tracking system for individual drug use trajectories, and including diverse demographic and geographic statistics, such as age, ethnicity, and location of drug use, to inform targeted treatment programs.

Macao, one of China’s two special administrative regions (SARs), is a unique jurisdiction with distinct challenges and opportunities for criminological research. This article examines the current state of crime data in Macao, focusing first on official statistics—where they can be accessed, who publishes them, and the key characteristics and limitations of these data sets. While official crime data provide a foundation for understanding crime trends in the region, significant issues, such as inconsistency of data and a lack of granularity limit its utility for in-depth analysis. In addition to official sources, this article explores non-official data derived from self-report surveys and interviews utilized in contemporary criminological studies in Macao. By synthesizing these diverse data sources, the article serves as a practical guide for criminologists interested in conducting research in this unique context. In addition, it outlines previous empirical studies and identifies critical challenges. Finally, it offers recommendations for future research, and advocates for innovative approaches that can more effectively explore crime and highlight the theoretical and empirical significance of this dynamic region.

Agency records and administrative data have been widely employed in the criminal justice discipline, particularly in cross-national comparisons. However, only a handful of studies in corrections have used such data to examine institutional trends and practices collectively within an Asian context. To address this research gap, this study analyzes three primary sources of agency records in Taiwan—Statistics of Justice, Crime Situations and Analyses, and Annual Reports—along with unpublished data approved by the Agency of Corrections. Through a systematic review, this study examines the evolution of institutional corrections over the past decade, with a focus on trends in general and special prison populations, release mechanisms, and key institutional provisions. In addition, it will explore the utility of agency documents in advancing evidence-based practices and facilitating cross-societal comparative studies. Hopefully, this study will inspire greater data transparency and applications that guide future research in corrections.

Cybercrime is increasingly recognized as a global issue, with adolescents being a key group as crime trends shift online. However, relatively little is known about the prevalence of cybercrime, its specific risk factors, and how they differ across high and low-middle-income countries. This highlights the need for more cross-national comparative studies on the cybercriminal behavior of young people. This study examines the prevalence of four types of cybercrime (image-based abuse, online hate speech, cyberfraud, and hacking) among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Europe and South America ( N = 28,325). Utilizing data from the International Self-Report Delinquency Study 4 (ISRD4), the analysis includes nine countries from Europe (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) and three from South America (Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela). According to our results, there is variation in adolescent cybercrime offending between countries and continents. Overall, cybercrime and hacking were more common in South America, whereas image-based abuse was more prevalent among adolescents from Europe. Cybercrime was associated with low self-control, morality, and anticipated formal sanctions for cybercrimes, whereas peer delinquency was associated with a higher likelihood of offending. In line with situational action theory (SAT), peer delinquency and anticipated formal sanctions for cybercrimes were associated with cybercrime only among those with low or average morality.

Hate crime refers to criminal offenses that are motivated by the rejection of a victim on the basis of a perceived or actual affiliation with certain identity groups. In Austria, particular vulnerable groups are listed under the offense of incitement (§238 StGB): Hate crimes are crimes against members of a church or religious community or another group of persons defined by the criteria race, skin color, nationality, decent or ethnic origin, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or a particular world view. Official statistics show that the proportion of juveniles in hate crime is significantly higher than their proportion in total crime. This article presents findings on hate crime and discrimination from the Austrian survey of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD). The survey was conducted in 2022 in public schools of all school types among students in Grades 8, 9, 10, and 11 and was aimed at young people aged 14 to 17. The analysis reveals personal characteristics, attitudes, and lifestyles of offenders and victims and shows the most important targets of victimization, including physical appearance, xenophobia, racism, and homophobia. Hate crimes are experienced as personal violence and as hate speech on social media and they are closely linked to experiences of discrimination. Life-time victimization rates of hate crimes of approximately 25% show that collective identities have become major targets in conflicts among young people in late modern multicultural societies.

This study investigates violent hate crime victimization among adolescents in Iceland, focusing on the role of immigrant background and classroom diversity. Drawing on data from the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD4), I analyzed responses from more than 3,000 randomly selected students aged 13 to 17 in the capital area using multilevel logistic regression. I examined (a) whether immigrant youth are at greater risk of experiencing hate crime victimization than native peers and (b) whether classroom composition moderates this relationship. Hate crime victimization is measured as exposure to threats or physical violence based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or similar characteristics. Results show that first- and second-generation immigrant youth report significantly higher rates of hate crime victimization than their native peers, with the risk especially elevated for first-generation youth. While classroom diversity has no overall effect, cross-level interactions reveal that more diverse classrooms reduce victimization among first-generation immigrants but increase it among second-generation youth. These findings offer nuanced support for both minority threat theory and intergroup contact theory. The study contributes to the limited quantitative literature on hate crime in Iceland and underscores the importance of considering classroom context when examining the social mechanisms shaping adolescent victimization.

This study examines the relationship between self-control and juvenile delinquency, with a focus on differences between traditional (offline) and cyber (online) offenses. Utilizing data from the fourth wave of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD-4), the sample consisted of 2,115 Czech adolescents surveyed in spring 2023 across Prague and Pilsen. The sample included students from 8th and 9th grades of elementary schools, equivalent grades of multiyear grammar schools, and the first 2 years of high schools. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both self-control and gender significantly influence the chance of engaging in delinquent behaviors, with boys demonstrating a higher propensity for both traditional and cyber delinquency, particularly in the online contexts. Notably, self-control was found to play a stronger role in traditional offenses compared to cyber delinquency, suggesting it is not the primary predictor of delinquent behavior in the digital realm. Such insights are critical for developing differentiated and targeted interventions to address the distinct characteristics of offline and online delinquent behaviors.

Conducting field research in resource-constrained settings presents unique challenges for new and experienced researchers. These challenges are amplified in the context of comparative research where adherence to standard protocol and procedures are required to obtain valid results. This paper draws on Ghana’s first participation in the fourth wave of the International Self-Report Delinquency Study (ISRD4) to examine such challenges in situ. We reflect critically on issues related to funding limitations, validity and reliability of measurement instrument, ethical approvals, bureaucratic delays, school access, technological constraints, and unforeseen disruptions that demanded adaptive and innovative responses. These experiences reveal the limitations of rigid methodological prescriptions and underscore the value of embracing uncertainty, improvisation, and reflexive research skills when working in complex environments. By integrating practical lessons with methodological reflection, this study contributes to the literature on field research in resource-constrained settings and offers recommendations for researchers, educators, and policymakers engaged in similar contexts.