The article reveals the issues of adolescents’ legal nihilism and socialization in Ukraine during the 1920s. The reasons for the formation of adolescents’ legal nihilism during the period under study are described. They are political changes in the country, changes in the traditional system of social organization, introduction of anti-religious policy, economic crisis caused by war, revolution and famine, unemployment, low earnings of the population and violations of labour protection conditions, including among teenagers, a class approach to education, increasing crime, homelessness and other socio-economic problems. The main driving mechanisms of the formation of the younger generation’s legal values are determined in terms of the role of the Bolshevik government and non-conformist organizations in Ukraine during the 1920s. The main fundamental nihilistic conflicts and contradictions among adolescents are determined. The types of children’s institutions that fought against child homelessness and nihilism are revealed. They are orphanages, schools-communes, institutions for defective children, shelters, children’s distribution centres, institutions of forced education, children’s legal consultations, commissions for juvenile affairs, children’s inspections, etc. The specific features of the prevention of legal nihilism on the way to adolescents’ socialization during the studied period are characterized. They are: the development of school education; establishment of a network of children’s institutions; creation of youth and adolescent culture in antisocial groups (groups of deviant teenagers) and prosocial groups (school, pioneer and Komsomol organizations). The significance of A. S. Makarenko’s ideas regarding the fight against child homelessness and delinquency is revealed. These ideas include adolescents’ education at labour faculties, labour education, aesthetic education, the formation of mutual responsibility and trust between adolescents, their return to a quality life, etc.). Key words: adolescents, legal nihilism, prevention, socialization, children’s institutions.
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