The current literature onjuvenilejustice in Russia is limited and tends to focus on the former Soviet Union. Using newly transled data we exunine the police and cowt dispositions ofjuveniles tested forseriousoffenses in Russiaduringthe period 1990-1999. Thetotal crime rate forjuveniles increased dramatically during this period, as did rests and convictions. Mostjuveniles were arested for theft. There was, however, a unexplained ptn of significantly lower rests and convictions for rape. About half of serious juvenile offenders arrested dwing this period were convicted of some offense. More than half ofthose who were convicted were sentenced to some form of incacton. The use of certain punishments, such as confnement to labor colonies, as well as the use of amnesties, declined during this period. We discuss implications of the findings and suggest additional research.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Afanasyev, V., Gilinskiy, Y., & Golbert, V. (1997). Social changes and crime in St. Petersburg. In U. Ewald (Ed.), Socialtr formation andcrim in metropolises offormer Eatern Bloc countries(pp. 162-181). Bonn, Germany: Forum Verlag Godesberg.
2.
Arshavaskii, A. I., & Vilks, A. I. (1991). Antisocial manifestations in the youth environment: An attempt at regional prognosis. Soviet Review, 32,71-81.
3.
Bytko, Y. I., & Lando, A. S. (1988). Deviant behavior of teenigers. Sotslologicheskie issledovaniya, 15(4), 77-78.
4.
Cebulak, W. (1996). Rising crime rates amid tisfio s in Eastern Europe: Socio-political transition and societal response. International Journal of Comparti and Applied Criminal Justice, 20(1-2), 77-44.
5.
Dvoymenny, I. A. (1994). Sociopsychological cha eris of teenage criminals. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 21(89), 115-119.
6.
Dvoymenny, I. A., & Lelekov, V. A. (1993). The influence offamily on adolescent criminality. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 20(10), 54-59.
7.
Finckenauer, J. O. (1995). Russian youth: Law, deviance, and the pursuit offreedom. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
8.
Finckenauer, J. O., & Kelly, L. (1992). Juvenile delinquency and youth subcultures in the former Soviet Union. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 16(1), 247-261.
9.
Gilinskiy, Y. (1997). Deviantbehavior in St. Petersburg. International Journal of Urbanand Regional Research, 21(3), 454-466.
10.
Gilinskiy, Y. (1998). Economic crime in contemporary Russia. European Financial Service Law, 5(3-4), 60-65.
11.
Gilinskiy, Y. (2000). Crime and delinquency: Viewfrom Russia. St. Petersburg, Russia: St. Petersburg Branch of Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
12.
Handleman, S. (1995). Comrade criminal: Russia's new Mafia. New York: Harper Collins.
13.
Hinners,J. E. (1973). Soviet correctional measures forjuvenile delinquency. British Journal of Criminology, 13, 218-226.
14.
Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of dlinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.
15.
Juviler, P. (1978). Juvenile delinquency in the Soviet Union. Prison Journal, 58, 18-28.
16.
Kiralty, A. R. (1976). The child in Soviet law: The juvenile delinquentReview of Socialist Law, 2(1), 67-77.
17.
McClellan, D. S. (1987). Soviet youth: A view fiom the inside. Crime and Social Justice, 29, 1-25.
18.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. (1995). Prestupnostipravonarwheniya(1990-1994): Statisticheskii sbornik [Crime and delinquency (1990-194): Statistical review]. Moscow, Russia: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
19.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. (1997). Prestupnost I pravonarusheniya (1992-1996): Statisticheskii sbornik (Crime and delinquency (1992-1996): Statistical review]. Moscow, Russia: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
20.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. (1998). Preshupnost nesovershennoletnikh v rossi [Juvenile criminality in Russia]. Moscow, Russia: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
21.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. (2000). Prestupnost i pravonarushenlya (1995-1999): Statisticheskii sbornik [Crime and delinquency (1995-1999): Statistical review]. Moscow, Russia: Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
22.
Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. (2001). Criminal statistics. Retrieved August 11, 2002, from http:/twww.mvdinfonn.i/lindex.php
23.
Ministry ofinternal Affairs ofthe U.S.S.R., Ministry of Justice ofthe U.S.S.R., Procurator's Office ofthe U.S.S.R. (1991). Crime and delinquency in the US.S.R 1990: Statistical review. Moscow, USSR: Finances and Statistics Publishers.
24.
Ochs, B. A. (1983). Procedural rights ofjuvenile offenders before Soviet courts and commissions for juvenile affairs. Review of Socialist Law, 9,61-83.
25.
Omel'chenko, E. (1996). Young women in provincial gang culture: A case study of Ul'ianovsk. In H. Pilikington (Ed.), Gender, generation and identity in conte ay Russia (pp. 216-235). London: Routledge.
26.
Popov, V. G. (1998). Youth in the sphae of criminogenic influences. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniy, 25(5), 72-79.
27.
Protopovov, V. A. (1980). The Regional Committee of the Communist Party and preventive measures against juvenile delinquency. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 7(2), 13-144.
28.
Rodeheaver, D. G., Williams, J. L., & Zottarelli, L. K. (2000, November). Capitalism and crime: The Russian experience. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology, San Francisco, CA.
29.
Serio, J. (1992). US.S.R crime statistics and summaries: 1989 and 1990. Chicago: Office of International Criminal Justice, University of Illinois at Chicago.
30.
Sudnow, D. (1965). Normal crimes: Sociological features of the penal code in a public defender office. Social Problems, 12(3), 255-276.
31.
Tatidinova, T. G. (2000). Organized crime and youth. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 1, 55-60.
32.
Terrill, R. J. (1999). World criminaljustice systems: A survey (4th ed.). Cincinnati: Anderson.
33.
Williams, J. L., & Rodeheaver, D. G. (2000a, March). Patterns ofjuvenile crime in Russia: 1986-1996. Paper presented at the meeting of the Southern Sociological Society, New Orleans, LA.
34.
Williams, J. L., & Rodeheaver, D. G. (2000b). Violent crime in Russia and the U.S.: 1990-1996. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 24(2), 135-158.
35.
Williams, J. L., Rodeheaver, D. G., & Huggins, D. W. (1999, November). Crime andpunishment in Russia and the United States: 1991-1996. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Toronto, Canada.
36.
Williams, J. L., & Serrins, A. S. (1995). Comparing violent crime in the Soviet Union and the United States: 1985-1991. Studies in Crime and Crime Prevention, 4(2), 252-266.
37.
Williams, P. (Ed.). (1997). Russian organized crime: The new threat. London: Frank Cass and Co.
38.
Zinchuk, E. G., & Karpukhin, Y. G. (1994). Mercenary crimes of teenagers. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya, 21(8-9), 101-109.
