CHILD NEGLECT AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN ZHYTOMYR OBLAST IN MID-1960S – EARLY 1970S AND MEASURES TO PREVENT THEM

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the state of child neglect and juvenile delinquency in the named region in the mid-1960s – early 1970s and measures aimed at overcoming those problems among minors. The scientific novelty of the paper is in the fact that there is still no comprehensive study on the situation and prevention of child neglect and juvenile delinquency in Zhytomyr oblast in the mid-1960s – the first half of the 1980s; archival sources are used to analyze the problem. Conclusions. A serious problem in the Ukrainian SSR, and in particular in Zhytomyr oblast in the second half of the 1960s – early 1970s, was the growth of neglect and delinquency among minors. Theft of personal and state property and hooliganism prevailed among those crimes. Appropriate public authorities took measures against offenders, as well as to prevent crimes from being committed by minors. However, the conducted research has shown insufficient control and other major shortcomings on the part of appropriate public authorities and schools in working with juvenile offenders. Under the conditions of the ruling party's power and its ideology, emphasis was directly placed on issues of fighting against juvenile delinquency, and the atheistic education of youth was carried out. Among the preventive measures, the proper organization of educational work among children and adolescents was of great importance and required special attention from school, parents, and the enterprises where they worked. One of the important fields of work of state bodies was the prevention of accidents among children. The problem was especially topical for neglected children, learners who did not attend or often missed classes at school. The problem of child neglect and juvenile delinquency in Zhytomyr oblast in the 1970s – 1980s requires further research.