Do We Face an Oxymoron? A More Prosperous Society, but Not So Safe for Our Children?

• In Event: ISRD Panel 3: Family Dynamics and Social Identity in Youth Delinquency

Abstract

This paper analyzes a paradoxical case based on the Lithuanian country case. The more affluent and prosperous society is, the more unsafe or not-so-safe its children are. This provocative argument will be tested by scrutinizing two types of conflicting tendencies. On the one hand, Lithuania experienced noticeable economic growth during the last 20 years, and involvement in international alliances seems to have guaranteed economic and geopolitical security. Registered general crime rates and juvenile crime rates are diminishing accordingly, as is recorded children’s victimization. However, these optimistic registered and general trends can be deceiving. The Lithuanian data from the International Self-Report Delinquency and Victimization Study (ISRD) show that though from 2006 to 2022, the prevalence of „traditional “crime victimization has decreased, online crime victimization among minors has increased. Also, the environment that should be the safest – family - appears to be a „risky“ one as far parental violence is one of those infringements that most commonly affect children and are often underreported. The paper also gives a descriptive view of the juvenile victimization structure paying attention to gender and age factors.

Author

• Aušra Pocienė, Vilnius university