Authors

• Anttila, Inkeri (University of Helsinki. Department of Criminal and Procedural Law)
• Jaakkola, Risto (Civic Education Centre)

Keywords

assault, burglary, crime victims, crimes against persons, crimes against property, criminal damage, drinking offences, juvenile delinquency, punishment, robbery, shoplifting, theft, traffic offences, youth

Abstract

The survey covered self-reported crime of Finnish young males, focusing particularly on theft and other property crime, and alcohol-related offences and their punishments. The survey was first of its kind in Finland. It formed part of the comparative Nordic Draftee Research Programme conducted in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, coordinated by the Scandinavian Research Council for Criminology (Nordiska Samarbetsrådet för Kriminologi). The data have been manually coded from the original questionnaires in the National Research Institute of Legal Policy in 2005.

The survey investigated the respondents' motor vehicle use and whether they had been driving while intoxicated. Regarding theft, the respondents were asked whether they had been victims of theft and if so whether they had told the police, and whether they themselves had participated in theft, particularly theft of motor vehicles or bicycles or theft from vehicles. Further questions covered experiences of joyriding and what had happened to the stolen vehicles (were the vehicles kept, sold, destroyed, returned). Theft from workplace, shoplifting, age when the shoplifting occurred, theft of ashtrays or such from cafes/restaurants, and participation in other types of theft were charted.

The survey studied burglary by asking whether the respondents had unlawfully entered any property, which method was used for entry and what age the respondent had been at the time. Receiving, buying or selling stolen goods were charted. Regarding robbery, the respondents were asked whether they had been the victims of theft involving use or threat of violence, whether they had informed the police of this and whether they themselves had taken something from someone by using or threatening with violence. They were also asked whether they had left restaurants or hotels without paying.

Regarding alcohol-related offences and their punishments, the respondents were asked whether they had participated in smuggling or illicit preparation of alcoholic substances, buying illicit alcoholic substances, or disorderly conduct while intoxicated. They were also asked whether they had had dealings with the police and other authorities because of intoxication and other offences committed, and what kind of punishment they had received. Opinions on the severity of Finnish punishments were charted as well as whether the respondents had deliberately damaged road signs or streetlights. One theme covered the respondents' knowledge of the legal age of consent and whether the respondents thought they had had sex with an underage girl and if so, what had her age been.

Background variables included the language of the questionnaire (Finnish or Swedish), location of the call-up, the respondent's year of birth, education, municipality of residence, type of neighbourhood, and father's social class and occupational status.