Social and cultural context of punitiveness in Lithuania

• In Event: Punishment and social context

Abstract

The presentation reviews the time of modern independent Lithuania (1990-2023) and analyses the institution of punishment in the Durkheimian sense - as a social fact determined by social and cultural facts coexisting at the same time. Trends and structural changes of crime are overviewed; how the former affect the public perception of the crime issue and the sense of safety in society.
Attention is also paid to the economic changes (standards of living, etc.): how much they affect public attitudes towards offenders, victims and institution of punishment. Also, attention is paid to the change of society's values (traditional vs modern), emphasizing the aspects of tolerance and homophobic attitudes.

Author

• Aušra Pocienė, Vilnius university