Juvenile delinquency on rise in Karabakh

Arminfo, Yerevan
29 Nov 04

STEPANAKERT

The problem of juvenile delinquency was discussed at an operational
meeting of the Nagornyy Karabakh Police.

The meeting pointed to the growing crime rate among underage children
in recent years, especially in the capital, an Arminfo correspondent
reports from Stepanakert. About a third of all crimes have been
committed by minors this year. These mainly included robberies, which
is largely preconditioned by social factors – disadvantaged families,
financial difficulties, etc.

Participants in the meeting pointed to the low effectiveness of work
with adolescents, which necessitates the strengthening of preventive
work in an effort to pre-empt juvenile crimes and offences. Also
discussed was the problem of street children, which is exacerbated by
lack of orphanages in the republic.

The number of thefts has considerably increased over the past several
years. The highest number of thefts is registered in Stepanakert and
Mardakert [Agdara], the meeting participants said.