Authors

• Aromaa, Kauko (National Research Institute of Legal Policy (Optula))
• Kivivuori, Janne (National Research Institute of Legal Policy (Optula))

Keywords

adolescents, alcohol use, assault, bullying, crime victims, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, offences, punishment, schoolchildren, theft, traffic offences, youth

Abstract

The survey studied the extent, frequency, and nature of self-reported offending among young Finns. The main topics were truancy, running away from home, fare evasion, driving without a license, doing graffiti, vandalism at school, vandalism outside school, stealing from a store or a kiosk, stealing from school, stealing from home, buying stolen goods, bullying, taking part in fighting, beating up somebody, use of mild drugs and pills, and drink-driving. The respondents were asked whether they had ever been involved in any of these activities and if so, whether the police had been notified if the activities were illegal. In addition, the respondents were asked when they had started the activity in question and whether they had been involved in it during the previous year. If the respondents answered in the affirmative, they were asked if they had been alone or with somebody at the moment, and whether they had been caught. The respondents were also asked topic-related questions like what they had stolen from a store or what the reason for bullying had been.

In the survey, all respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with statements relating to young people and offences, and what kind of punishments should be used. Among others, the following topics were dealt with: mitigating punishment due to circumstances, how common or normal illegal activities were during puberty, causes of criminality, and the seriousness of petty theft as a crime. Furthermore, the respondents were asked whether they would do some or any of the following forbidden things in the future: truancy, fare evasion, petty theft, theft, mild assault and battery, use of mild drugs. The respondents were also asked whether they thought it was normal that young people break the rules set by their parents, the rules of the school, or break the law. In the survey, the respondents were also asked about the severity of various punishments (house arrest, imprisonment, fine) in a situation where a young person had broken the law.

Background variables included location of school, the respondent's gender, age, employment, whether R liked going to school, how many times R had had to repeat a year in school, professions of the parents and their current employment situation, interpersonal relationships in the family, use of money, household composition, leisure time activities, whether R had a boyfriend/girlfriend, alcohol use, and smoking.