Global Journal of Human Social Science, C: Sociology and Culture, Volume 23 Issue 2

© 2023 Global Journals Volume XXIII Issue II Version I 44 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2023 C Self-reporting of youth delinquency in the Balkans and beyond: Results of the ISRD3 International Self-Reporting Study of Delinquency in the Context of Violence, Victimization, and Substance Abuse in Comparative Aspects A similar picture appears when the skill of offense is used, with the Balkan countries but also in Ukraine. Our preli mi nary findings suggest that country groupings based on theoretical and policy-related criteria (rather than region) offer a promising method to present and interpret the large amount of international data (Smit et al., 2008) that have been also successfully applied to the analysis of the results of the First International Delinquency Self-Report Study (Junger-Tas et al., 2003). Although there is considerable variation within clusters, the observed differences between clusters support our belief that this approach is more promising and worthy of continued exploration. Third, the partially contradictory trends in self- reported offending and victimization that emerged in the ISRD-3 data are striking. In former socialist countries, tighter social control over school children than in Western countries may prevent them from committing more crimes, while older juveniles may be less controlled and, occasionally , to victimize younger minors. The willingness to honestly report on one's behavior may also vary across countries. This is supported by a European study of alcohol and drugs. Hibell et al. (2004) showed that the rate of respondents who said they would never report hashish use varied between 2% (Finland) and 12% (Lithuania). The differential validity hypothesis should become a routine empirical dimension for comparative criminological studies of self-report (see also Pauwels and Svensson, 2008). Fourth, our attempts to compare ISRD-3, ICVS and ESB data for three specific offenses (robbery/ extortion, assault and theft) illustrate, once again, the great challenges associated with trying to disentangle – at the level international – (possible) convergence of different measures of crime. Previous research (Aebi et al., 2002) has shown that police and ICVS data are highly correlated after adjustments are made to match these sources (with respect to offense definitions and counting rules), as in the case of ESB. If ICVS and ISRD data on robbery, assault and theft victimization are moderately or not at all correlated (in the case of assault), this may be due to the fact that ISRD and ICVS data relate to different age groups (14-15 vs 16–19) and levels (city vs nations). Furthermore, ICVS data may be more controversial when it comes to estimating rates of victimization among adolescents given the small sample sizes and chronic underrepresentation of this age group in population surveys. More encouraging is the finding of a moderate and consistent correlation between police data on known offenders (PSO) and ISRD data on self- reported offenses (for robbery, assault and theft). 31 31 Junger-Tas J, Marshall IH, and Ribeaud D (2003) Delinquency in an international perspective: The International Self-Reported Delinquency Study (ISRD). The Hague: Kugler. Junger-Tas J, Terlouw GJ and Klein Despite all the measurement problems, the ISRD-3 data allow analysis of the causes of crime and to assess the extent to which theories on the causation of crime hold up across nations. Therefore, information about lifestyle, social connectedness and control, neighborhood contexts, and other risk factors is essential when one wishes to examine the causes of delinquency (Junger-Tas and Marshall, 1999). A forthcoming publication, based on the analysis of the pooled international data set, will focus on the social response to delinquent behavior, the meaning of the family, the influence of schools and school systems, the meaning of lifestyles and the influence of the neighborhood. on delinquency and victimization. VII. C onclusion Kosovo • Before the starting of ISRD-3, this country in terms of research was more a kind of black box. The level of delinquency among Swiss juveniles with Kosovar origin is relatively high (not presented in this research), but its comparison with the prevalence of perpetrations in their own country, brings the opposite results. Thus, respondents from Kosovo reported the lowest percentage of minor and property offences and the second lowest in the violent perpetrations. Juveniles from this country are also better controlled by parents and have the lowest percentage of respondents, who have tried alcohol in their life. 32 Bosnia-Herzegovina • The same as among the taken Ex-Yugoslavian countries, except Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina has a relatively higher prevalence of graffiti. The percentage of violent offences is the lowest. • The same as Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina participated in ISRD-2 in 2006. In 2015 (ISRD-3) there is a significant decreasing of vandalism, group fight and assault. The opposite tendency is with cannabis use (ltp) and shoplifting and burglary. Macedonia • Macedonia participated in ISRD-3 for the first time. The same a Bosnia-Herzegovina, there is relatively high prevalence of graffiti. Macedonian respondents reported one of the highest levels of minor and property offences and the second highest level of violent offences after Armenia. The percentage of substance use is not the highest. MW (eds) (1994) Delinquent Behaviour Among Young People in the Western World: First Results of the International Self-report Delinquency Study. Amsterdam: Kugler. 32