CRIME IN LITHUANIA

During the last few years violent crime ratio in Lithuania has vastly increased. The major concerns for young people in Lithuania are identified as unemployment and job security. Youth unemployment is becoming a key issue. The job situation is difficult both for highly skilled, educated youth and for those who do not have even vocational training, what causes people to fall into the crime’s swale. Children and young people constituted the biggest proportion not only of the perpetrators oof crime but also its victims. In 2000, more than 1,000 juveniles where imprisoned in Lithuania. In Lithuania, the excessive application of prison sentences to juveniles is mostly preconditioned by legal and administrative factors rather than by any increase in juvenile crime or its patterns. It is encouraging, therefore, that different alternatives to imprisonment are being considered at the moment in the context of the reform of Juvenile Justice. For example, if a foreigner comes to Lithuania, he shouldn’t forget tto be more wary, because crimes against foreigners, while usually non-violent, are becoming more common. Pickpocketing and theft are problems, so personal belongings should be well protected at all times. Thefts from cars, carjackings, and theft from cars are increasingly ccommonplace. In my opinion, there are several solutions to the problem.

. Crime is not a problem that can be addressed by individuals, but by ruling governments,so firstly, an effective solution is to recommended the Lithuanian government to take additional measures to prevent, investigate and prosecute all cases of violent crime. Persons violating Lithuanian law, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Lithuania are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.

Secondly, another suggestion is to help young people find work, by expanding their physical and mental development, by expanding their education. Young people have the potential to make significant changes to their countries’ economic and ssocial climates. So adults’ role in this situation is to understand them, communicate with them, provide them with the best possible options for life, and let them make informed choices regarding their future. It is our role to help and support those who suffer, who have too complex problems and who don’t have many choices to make. It is also our role to encourage targeted efforts by the whole society to improve the opportunities for young people and pave the wway of a meaningful participation of every young person in their communities. This solution would undoubtedly deter young people from violent crime.

To sum up, perhaps the best solution to the problem of violent crime in Lithuania is better enforcement of police system, which will ensure that more criminals are caught.

And I think that it’s sad that Crime is spreading around the World, and it’s an epidemic that is infecting today’s global society.