JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN BRASLAV DISTRICT. CAUSES AND CONDITIONS

The Prosecutor's Office of Braslav District, along with state authorities and organizations, took measures in 2020 to prevent offenses and crimes committed by minors and to enhance oversight of the enforcement of legislation protecting the rights of minors.

At the same time, the analysis of crimes committed by individuals under the age of eighteen in Braslav District in 2020 shows that the preventive and precautionary measures taken were insufficient, resulting in an increase in juvenile crime from 3 to 4 compared to 2019.

During the analyzed period, the court of Braslav District issued guilty verdicts against 5 minors in 3 criminal cases, and in 1 criminal case concerning 1 minor, a ruling was made to release them from criminal liability under Article 89 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The main reasons for the commission of these crimes were the lack of proper parental control, as well as, in some cases, the inaction of preventive entities, including inadequate organization of employment for minors and preventive work with minors prone to unlawful behavior by the administration of educational institutions.

Serious concern continues to be raised by the alcoholization of youth and their parents. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are considered among the main causes of many specific offenses committed by adolescents.

The number of minors brought to administrative responsibility for violating anti-alcohol legislation in the district has decreased. Under Article 17.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus, 12 minors were brought to responsibility in 2020 (19 in 2019).

It is evident that the main reasons for the alcoholization of youth are family dysfunction and lack of proper parental control.

In this regard, the issue of early detection of family dysfunction remains significant, as it not only poses a real threat to the life and health of children but is also the main cause of negative manifestations in the adolescent environment and the neglect of minors.

As of 01.01.2021, 52 children from 25 families in Braslav District were recognized as being in a socially dangerous situation (as of 01.01.2020 – 45 children from 22 families).

In order to normalize the criminal situation in the youth environment, the Prosecutor's Office of Braslav District has taken additional measures to activate preventive work. This issue is under constant control.

Deputy Prosecutor of the District                        S.P. Harbus