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In the year monitored, the Czech police recorded 8,832 (+0.1 %) child offenders (aged up to 15) and 9,146 (-13.3 %) juvenile offenders (aged15-18). The proportion of children in the total number of offenders stagnates; the proportion of juveniles has slightly fallen. Of the total number of child offenders, re-offending was recorded for 36.4% and for 31.5% of juveniles. On the long-term basis (since 1993) the number of child offenders has increased by 18.9% and the number of crimes committed by children by 54.5%.8)
Children – investigated persons and crimes in the Czech Republic in 1999 and percentage change. | ||||||||
Crimes against property | Common thefts | Robberies | Burglaries to weekend-houses | Damage to property | Break in - cars | Crimes of violence | Wilful battery | |
Number of persons | 6,582 | 2,920 | 2,541 | 370 | 845 | 728 | 1,211 | 323 |
Percentage change in comparison with 1998 | -3.16 | -7.27 | -2.90 | -14.75 | * | 3.26 | 20.02 | 20.97 |
Detected crimes | 9,409 | 5,744 | 2,525 | 384 | 758 | 2,570 | 1,486 | 341 |
Percentage change in comparison with 1998 | 1.04 | 0.79 | -2.43 | -39.43 | * | 0.12 | 16.46 | 26.30 |
Note: * It is not possible to compare, relevant code was introduced during 1999. |
A long-term trend of young people crimes has demonstrated an increasing ”competency” of more or less all types of crimes. More sophisticated forms to cover crimes have been used. The frequency of various types of crimes differs by regions.
The development in the number of ascertained crimes committed by children in the CR from 1993 to 1999 and percentage changes by year. | |||||||
1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
Crimes ascertained | 8,074 | 8,053 | 10,322 | 12,059 | 12,086 | 11,999 | 12,464 |
Percentage change | 13.83 | 0.26 | 28.18 | 16.83 | 0.22 | -0.72 | 3.88 |
Children committed a total of 12,464 cleared up crimes and juveniles 14,920. When converted to offence per 10,000 children in the Czech Republic, there were 71.2 cleared up offences in 1999 (67 offences in 1998). When converted to offences per 10,000 juveniles in the Czech Republic, there were 359.8 cleared crimes in 1999 ( 388.6 in 1998).
The share of children and juveniles in the regions of the CR in the total number of offenders and percentage change by years. | |||||||||
Prague | CBR | SBR | NBR | WBR | EBR | SMR | NBR | CR | |
Child percentage proportion | 3.1 | 6.6 | 8.5 | 6.5 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 6.9 |
Percentage share in comparison with 1998 | 0.03 | -0.07 | -0.61 | -0.03 | 0.40 | 0.32 | 0.45 | -0.07 | 0.08 |
Juvenile percentage proportion | 5.1 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.2 |
Percentage share in comparison with 1998 | -0.86 | -1.12 | -1.01 | -1.11 | -1.69 | -0.42 | -1.11 | -0.66 | -1.01 |
Juvenile crime is aimed particularly at crimes against property where the police do not find any differences between the crimes committed by adults and crimes committed by juveniles. There are some alarming aspects: in comparison with juveniles, children committed more crimes of violence, more crimes of wilful battery, and the number of murders committed by children has increased and the number of moral offences is almost the same.
Juveniles – prosecuted and investigated persons in the Czech Republic in 11999 and percentage change | |||||||||
Crimes against property | Burglary | General thefts | Car thefts | Car Break - ins | Crimes of violence | Robbery | Wilful battery | Murders | |
Number of persons | 6,703 | 2,094 | 3.955 | 780 | 752 | 1,006 | 370 | 311 | 7 |
Percentage change in comparison with 1998 | -13.55 | -16.21 | -11.50 | -12.65 | -19.49 | -16.38 | -2.63 | -15.95 | -56.25 |
Detected crimes | 11,450 | 3,534 | 6,999 | 1,025 | 2,187 | 1,233 | 367 | 334 | 6 |
Percentage change in comparison with 1998 | -13.03 | -14.04 | -12.02 | -15.43 | -20.59 | -7.57 | 1.38 | -11.41 | -62.50 |
Aggression and brutality has repeatedly been determined. In terms of moral offences committed by young people, the motivation is mainly the desire to get sexually acquinted with their peers. As for the drug offences there is a desire to try something unknown. A range of negative factors usually has a cumulative influence (poorly functioning families, gangs of peers, truancy, as well as the use of alcohol and other addictive substances). In the year monitored, attention was paid to truancy, which is considered to be a serious criminal factor. The proportion of juveniles in crimes fell (both in terms of number of crimes and offenders), while the proportion of children committing crimes rose. Measures taken cannot cover only the criminal-law area, but the state authorities and other organisations as well. Participation in prevention should adopt a system with a systematic, and co-ordinated approach. For detailed information on this issue see ”Report on meeting Crime Prevention Strategy up to the year 2000” In spite of this, it is necessary to mention that the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs continues to participate in the project of ”Prompt Prevention Centres”. These social custodians focus on ongoing social work with offenders. The number of functioning ”half-way houses ” has increased up to 14. Co-operation of custodians for young people and probationary officers has been more intensive in prosecution against juveniles. The Czech police co-operate with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (hereinafter the MEYS) as well as with relevant educational authorities in the regions. The MEYS has continued implementing the minimum preventative programme for schools and educational facilities concerning the abuse of addictive substances entitled Drug-Free Schools. Training activities, special programmes and programmes targeted twards co-operation with parents have been held within the above mentioned programmes. Such programmes form an integral part of prevention projects implemented in cities and villages. They do not deal only with drug issues, but they cover other sociopathic phenomena, including extremism.
The crimes committed by young people under the influence of non-alcohol addictive substances have changed in recent years in a negative direction. The fact that drugs are distributed at primary schools and in various training centres for children and youth is alarming. The rise of drug and psychotropic substance addicts has been confirmed. On the other hand, due to the application of the amendment of the Criminal Code, the activity and number of drug dealers, mainly in the streets, has been successfully limited and decreased. Children committed 428 crimes of unauthorised production and distribution of narcotic and psychotropic substances (i.e. 6.7 % of the total number of ascertained crimes of this nature), juveniles committed 455 such crimes (i.e. 7.1 %).9)
4,723 juvenile persons10) were sentenced (7.5 %), and in comparison with 1998, no substantial change was indicated (4,605 persons). Property crimes are still the most frequent crimes – 2,302 persons (49,9 %) were sentenced. 56 juveniles were sentenced for racial crimes. 3,448 persons were sentenced with suspension. 512 persons were inflicted sentences without suspension.
North Moravian Courts sentenced the highest number of juvenile offenders – 1,061, followed by North Bohemian courts – 961, and South Moravian Courts - 655 persons.
Crimes committed against young people are alarming. The most serious cases were sexual abuse and cruelty to a person in charge.11) The background for the emergence of subsequent criminal activity is also created by such crimes.
Crimes committed against young people Number of crimes |
Year | ||||||
ascertained 1993 |
1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | |
Cruelty to a person in charge | 65 | 97 | 164 | 160 | 151 | 134 | 140 |
Percentage change in comparison with the previous year | - | 49.23 | 69.07 | -2.44 | -5.63 | -11.26 | 4.48 |
Sexual abuse of dependants | 237 | 270 | 258 | 278 | 224 | 477 | 196 |
Percentage change in comparison with the previous year | - | 13.92 | -4.44 | 7.75 | -19.42 | 112.95 | -58.91 |
Other sexual abuse | 696 | 831 | 951 | 1,038 | 768 | 927 | 915 |
Percentage change in comparison with the previous year | - | 19.40 | 14.44 | 9.15 | -26.01 | 20.70 | -1.29 |
2. Crime, Development in Individual Kinds of Crime and Security Risks