Juvenile Criminality: Evidence From Prisoners in Two Brazilian States

• DOI: 10.1177/07340168211038326
• Author: Alexandre Luiz Schlemper,Pery Francisco Assis Shikida,Bárbara Françoise Cardoso Bauermann
• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Date: 01 December 2021
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Juvenile Criminality: Evidence

From Prisoners in Two

Brazilian States

B´

arbara Franc¸oise Cardoso Bauermann

1

,

Pery Francisco Assis Shikida

2

, and Alexandre Luiz Schlemper

3

Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify the socioeconomic context that can influence young peoples’

decision to engage in crime. The sample is composed of youngsters (aged between 18 and 23 years

old) convicted or detained in an interim regime accused of property crimes, serving a sentence in

Brazilian prison units. A survey with 302 respondents was conducted in Paran´

a and Rio Grande

do Sul states. Logistic regression models reveal that a young people’s family composition, use a

firearm, be motivated by the idea of easy gain, have a favorable attitude toward drug legalization, and

consume alcohol—all factors contribute to an increased probability of the young person engage in

crime. This article finalizes with a discussion of the results and policy implications.

Keywords

youth, crimes, logit, prisons, socioeconomic context

The aim of this article is to identify the socioeconomic context that potentially influences young

peoples’ decision to engage in crime. The sample is composed of young people (aged between

18 and 23 years old) convicted or detained in an interim regime accused of property crimes, serving a

sentence in Brazilian prison units. This aim is achieved by using the logit model, whose data were

obtained by conducting a survey with inmates of the prison units in Paran´a and Rio Grande do Sul

states—two states in the southern Brazil. The prison units were the following: Foz do Iguac¸u State

Penitentiary I (PEF) and the Women’s Social Reintegration Center of Foz do Iguac¸u, both in Paran ´a;

and the Central Prison of Porto Alegre, Madre Pelletier Women’s Penitentiary, Arroio dos Ratos

State Penitentiary, and Women’s State Penitentiary of Gua´ıba, all in Rio Grande do Sul.

Note that these two states share borders with Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. This is an

important aspect from a situational perspective because it facilitates crime since criminals can cross

1

University Center Dinˆ

amica das Cataratas, Foz do Iguac¸u/PR, Brazil

2

Western Paran´

a State University, Toledo/PR, Brazil

3

Federal Institute of Paran´

a, Palmas/PR, Brazil

Corresponding Author:

B´

arbara Franc¸oise Cardoso Bauermann, University Center Unia

˜oDin

ˆ

amica das Cataratas, Rua Castelo Branco, 349, Centro,

Foz do Iguac¸u/PR, CEP 85852010, Brazil.

Email: barbara.bauermann@udc.edu.br

Criminal Justice Review

ª2021 Georgia State University

Article reuse guidelines:

sagepub.com/journals-permissions

DOI: 10.1177/07340168211038326

journals.sagepub.com/home/cjr

2021, Vol. 46(4) 484–494