The dissertation focuses on the theoretical and practical problems of preventing criminal offenses committed by youth groups in Ukraine, taking into account the current state of criminal, criminal procedural legislation and law enforcement activities.
It has been established that the main youth groups aimed at illegal actions are informal ones, whose actions are mainly hooligan in nature, which over time manifests itself in violent, aggressive illegal actions. Informal youth groups with a violent orientation are proposed to be understood as antisocial stable structural formations, which include at least 5 people aged from 14 to 35, connected by common interests and needs, having their own subculture, varying degrees of group crime rates, manifested in the committed criminal offenses of a violent nature.
Aggression is understood as purposeful, destructive behavior, which is expressed in certain actions, motivated by hostility and hatred towards people, society and causing
damage to life, health, honor and dignity, human rights, bringing about mental discomfort (a state of tension, anxiety, fear and other negative emotions), for which
criminal liability is provided.
The content of the elements of the criminological characteristics of criminal offenses committed by youth groups is disclosed, with information on the state, structure, dynamics and geography of criminally punishable acts of this category, the reasons and conditions that contribute to their commission, socio-psychological characteristics of offenders (members of youth groups, criminal organizations), gangs, other formations) and victims, and the connection between the activities of the youth group and the degree of aggressive behavioral attitude of the criminal, latency and effectiveness of the preventive measures taken is also shown.
It has been found out (based on the analysis of statistical indicators in 2013–2021), that modern crime in Ukraine is characterized by an annual increase in the number of serious criminal offenses committed as part of youth groups and organizations, including the use of weapons and explosives, the involvement of youth associations in committing violations of public order, which in general negatively affects social development in conditions of armed aggression, aggravation of internal political confrontation and economic instability.
It has been established that political and socio-economic changes, a decrease in the standard of living, the loss of moral orientations, the weakening of family functions, and the criminalization of society left a deep impression on the behavior of young people. General (macro-level) determinants of criminal behavior of members of youth groups include: rapid stratification of society into poor and rich and other stratification of society into groups; a general decrease in controllability of social processes; instability of the economic situation in the country; decrease in the standard of living; family failure; shortcomings of the state and public system; deformation of moral and psychological attitudes of members of informal youth
groups; predominance of self-serving, selfish-individual, demonstrative-aggressive and violent motives. Special (micro-level) determinants include dysfunctionality of
the family; social maladaptation of a person and other alienation from the social environment; age, mental and other personal characteristics; willingness to avoid
solving life problems in the world of alcohol and drugs, which create a temporary illusory stability; lack of opportunity to be realized in socially useful activity; feeling
of purposelessness of existence; devotion to loved ones; distancing from successful young people; the influence of antisocial environment.
A person who commits criminal offenses as part of youth groups is understood as a set of his socio-demographic, moral-psychological, social-role and criminal-legal
features and properties, which are manifested in criminal behavior determined by negative ideological views and aggression towards others. The main characteristic
features of the socio-psychological portrait of a person who commits criminal offenses as part of youth groups are: contempt for socially significant interests and the interests of other people; expressed selfishness, subordination of the behavior of other people to one's own interests and desires; special audacity, cruelty towards the
victims; increased conflict; low general education level of this category of persons; internal readiness for illegal acts; a high percentage of adolescents and young adults
who commit street violence; a fairly high level of group organization of violent street criminals.
