Forceful counteraction to juvenile delinquency: overcoming taboos

Abstract

According to the official statistics, juvenile delinquency continues to decline steadily, which, of course, raises reasonable doubts both among scientists involved in the issue under consideration and some citizens. In their socially dangerous manifestations, they are becoming more and more daring and aggressive, the share of violent crimes in the overall structure of juvenile delinquency is only increasing. Fundamental approaches to the analysis and reassessment of the situation have not changed for a long time, creating the illusion of positive dynamics and sufficiency of measures taken to prevent juvenile delinquency. At the same time, countering socially dangerous manifestations of minors is left to the mercy of citizens who are directly confronted with such manifestations of gross uncontrolled aggression, teenagers who feel their impunity perfectly, most often acting in a group. In front of them even law enforcement officers often look powerless. However, recently more and more attention has been paid to the capabilities of citizens and law enforcement officers to legally resist criminal expansion. The authors do not call for strengthening the criminal responsibility of minors, given the already punitive beginnings of modern Russian criminal legislation, but it is still necessary to act decisively. It is advisable to tighten administrative legislation, which to some extent will reduce the feeling of impunity among adolescents and will obviously contribute to the prevention of socially dangerous manifestations on their part in the future. At the same time, it is necessary to change the attitude of both the legislator and the law enforcement officer to persons who show civil initiative in forcibly (by causing harm) countering socially dangerous acts, including those committed by minors or with their participation.