State and tendencies of juvenile crime in Serbia

Analysis of statistical data

Abstract

Analysis of juvenile crime in this article is based on the data of reported and convicted juveniles. It can be concluded that the state of crime of this category of offenders is not dramatic, considering that it does not show a tendency of rapid growth (the only exception is the second largest city in the Republic - Novi Sad). The number of reported offenders ranges for more than a decade around 4000, which means that the percent of persons aged 14-18 years in the total number of reported perpetrators of all crimes is about 4% - in other words, their crime rate is about 55. Territorial distribution shows that more perpetrators are registered in the south than in the north part of the Republic. However, some data of the structure of juvenile crimes and of their personal traits do not favor the mentioned calming conclusion. In the structure of crimes committed by persons aged 14- 18 years for decades have dominated property crimes. However, participation of these crimes has declined in past years, while crimes against life and limb have recorded a notable increase, that has stabilized in recent years at around 10%. Rapid growth is visible at the offenses against public order and legal transactions, as well as at the criminal offenses against public health (related to drug abuse). The process against juveniles from the time of bringing the criminal charges to the decision lasts on average less than four months, against every twentieth offender a measure of restriction of freedom (beside detention, measures of temporary accommodation are included) is imposed. Detention is usually imposed on offenders who committed crimes against property (qualified theft and robbery) and in 70% of all cases it lasts up to one month. Based on the data from the judicial statistics it is possible to make some kind of photo-robot of an average juvenile offender. This is a man who is often between 16 and 18 years old (older juvenile), who commits crimes within a group and most often together with peers, usually has completed primary school and it is still involved in educational program, lives with parents and nationally identifies as a Serb. One sixth of all offenders are recidivists. Victims of juvenile crimes in the most cases are men (women make up only about one quarter of victims), usually (just over half ) adults, and mostly they are victimized by crimes against property; followed by victims-peers who are in the most cases victimized by criminal offences of violence.