Authors

• Kivivuori, Janne (National Research Institute of Legal Policy (Optula))
• Salmi, Venla (National Research Institute of Legal Policy (Optula))

Keywords

assault, burglary, crime, crime victims, criminal damage, drug abuse, illegal drugs, juvenile delinquency, possession of stolen property, robbery, students, theft, traffic offences, truancy, youth

Abstract

The survey studied the extent, frequency and nature of self-reported offending among Finns aged 15-16 as well as 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, stealing, buying stolen goods, car theft, bullying, taking part in a fight, assault, use of marijuana, hasish or other drugs, use of legal drugs for intoxication purposes and drink-driving. New offences in the 2008 survey included burglary, using threat of force in robbing, and illegal downloading from the Internet.

If the respondents admitted having done any of the above-mentioned acts, they were asked how old they had been when they first did the act and whether they had done it in the previous 12 months. In the case of criminal offences, the respondents were asked whether the police had ever found out about the offence. Additionally, relating to the latest act, they were asked whether they had acted alone, whether they had been drunk at the time and whether somebody had found out about the act. A new question investigated whether certain acts had been revenge for some previous incident. The respondents were also presented with specifying questions, for example, whether an assaulted victim had required medical care or how much a drug had cost and why the respondent had wanted to use a drug.

One topic pertained to the 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 whether the respondents themselves had been victims of bullying, robbery, theft, assault or threats.

Questions were also asked about dating, alcohol use, use of prohibited substances (doping), the respondents' views of themselves, family and leisure time, health, sense of security and punishments received from parents. The respondents were asked whether violence in the media and entertainment had frightened or disturbed them and whether a police officer or guard had searched their belongings, told them to leave an area or apprehended them.

The background variables included, among others, the respondent's gender, age, school performance, plans after basic education, parents' economic activity and occupational status, people living with R and financial situation of the family. A new background variable in the 2008 survey was immigrant background.