Authors

• 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, schoolchildren, teacher-student relationship, theft, traffic offences, youth

Abstract

The survey studied the extent, frequency and nature of self-reported offending among 15-16 years old Finns, their attitudes towards crime and experiences of being victims. Questions covered truancy, running away from home, driving without a licence, doing graffiti, vandalising school property or other property, shoplifting, stealing from school or home, car theft and buying stolen goods. The respondents were also asked whether they had experienced phases during which they did more shoplifting than usual.

Some questions charted whether respondents had participated in drink-driving, bullying, fights, assaults or had used marijuana, hashish or other illegal drugs. One topic pertained to respondents' disruptive behaviour towards teachers (offensive language, offensive telephone calls, threatening with violence, using violence).

The survey carried a set of attitudinal questions about breaking the law, interpersonal relations and human nature. The respondents were also asked how many of their friends had done shoplifting or used drugs and whether respondents thought it probable that they themselves would do so in the future and what the consequences might be. Last questions charted whether the respondents themselves had been victims of bullying, thefts, assaults or threats. In addition, the respondents were asked whether they had experienced sexual harassment, what the characteristics of the offender had been, whether they had told anyone about it and what effect the harassment had had on them.

Background variables included, among others, respondents' sex, age, employment status, use of money, leisure activities, dating, alcohol use, smoking, punishments received from parents, parents' occupation and employment status. There were also two variables connected to the type of municipality.