Juvenile Delinquency in Italy: New Trends, Profiles, and Implications

• In Event: Juvenile Delinquency and Adult Offending: Trends, Trajectories, and Measurement

Abstract

This study investigates the growing concern surrounding juvenile delinquency in Italy, aiming to delineate the actual scale of this issue. Although juvenile delinquency is still marginal, recent statistics have shown a significant rise in reported cases involving minors, especially those related to violent crimes, with this increase often attributed to an increased presence of juvenile gangs. Our research seeks to shed light on this phenomenon from different perspectives. Firstly, it provides a preliminary classification and geographical mapping of juvenile gangs throughout Italy and an analysis of the current official statistics regarding juvenile crimes. Secondly, it analyses case files from two groups of young individuals in care at the Social Service Office for Minors in Milan, drawing comparisons between 2015-16 and 2022-23. Through the examination of socio-demographic characteristics and contextual factors, the study highlights both persistent and evolving trends in the profiles of minors engaged in criminal behaviors. These findings offer insights into the recent evolution in juvenile delinquency in Italy, suggesting potential implications for the understanding of the issue at both a national and international level.

Authors

• Marco Dugato, Transcrime - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

• Cosimo Sidoti, University of Kent