Attitudes of delinquent youth towards activities of socialization centers in Lithuania

Abstract

The attitude of delinquent youth towards activities of socialization centers is analysed in the article. Socialization is a fundamental process that begins at birth and continues throughout a person‘s life. One of the extreme consequences of such ongoing unsuccessful socialization is juvenile misbehavior and crime. In Lithuania according to the Law of minimum and medium care measures are imposed for delinquent youth with behavior problems aiming to provide those under the age of criminal responsibility with social-educational, psychological and other assistance. The article presents a research that reveals reasons why children get into a children socialization center, what young people have to undergo in socialization centers, and their evaluation of various activities there, what research participants think about the influence of re-socialization on their personality and future perspectives. The study has revealed that the most common reasons why children are imposed the average childcare measure are school non-attendance, failure to comply with minimum care measures, administrative and criminal law offences, and anti-social behavior of the children. Children are afraid to get in the socialization center and, once there, they face very acute problems. While children evaluate their personal changes upon returning from the socialization center positively they do not believe that other children who are living there can change, and think that the measures have a negative impact.