Klaipėdos universitetas

Straipsnyje atskleidžiama savanorystės fenomeno raiška visuomenėje, akcentuojami savanoriškos veiklos ypatumai nevyriausybinėse organizacijoje (toliau – NVO), teikiant socialines paslaugas. Aptariant NVO veiklos turinį socialinės politikos kontekste pristatomos NVO ir savanorystės ištakos. Remiantis Lietuvos Respublikos įstatymais, aptariama NVO galia vertinant teisinio reguliavimo pokyčius vykdant savanorišką veiklą. Sąsajų tarp savanoriškos, socialinio darbo ir NVO veiklos išryškinimas leidžia modeliuoti įvairių socialinių problemų sprendimo strategijas, siekiant mažinti socialinę atskirtį ir puoselėti visuomenės bendruomeniškumą, rengiant socialinius darbuotojus. Teisinis savanorystės reguliavimas sudaro NVO veiklos profesionalizacijos ir veiksmingo socialinės politikos įgyvendinimo prielaidas.

The article discusses the classic sociological question about the links between poverty and delinquency, whether the urban areas with a dense concentration of people living in social housing, common lodging-houses and hostels are more prone to crimes? Does living nearby such social objects means a higher risk for nearby residents? The article suggests that social housing, common lodging-houses and hostels meant for homeless asylum seekers and their families could only hypothetically be considered to be the areas with higher crime rates. Using the data available at the Department of Social Housing of Klaipėda City Municipality about the location of such housing in the city (localisation structure), the method of crime mapping, and the opportunities provided by a Geographic Information System, we have attempted to evaluate empirically the links between delinquency and the urban areas populated by socially vulnerable and economically disadvantaged people. The article provides the preliminary data of the research. This research has been funded by a grant (MIP-085/2014) from the Research Council of Lithuania.

The article discusses the declining juvenile crime rate in Klaipėda between 1995 and 2019. The city of Klaipėda was chosen as an empirical illustration allowing not only to focus on a social phenomenon but also to identify possible directions of wider interpretation and causal links. The authors have already presented a sociological reconstruction of the identities of Klaipėda between 1990 and 2010,* and therefore the dynamics of juvenile crime discussed in the light of new statistical, sociological and especially legal perspectives should be approached as a continuation of the analysis of juvenile crime in Klaipėda. Placing juvenile crime in the context of social problems, the authors see legal changes and programmes in juvenile justice as possible reasons for the declining juvenile crime rate. However, with the conclusions and discussion in the article being based on four hypothetical assumptions for the declining crime rate (delinquency is caused by the process of juvenile biological and social development; a completely opposite hypothesis: with the end of maturation, delinquent behaviour also ceases; links between delinquency and socially vulnerable families; a return to K. Mannheim’s idea of a contract between the elite of society and youth) provoke a continuation of research in the field of youth crime.

The article deals with the problem of domestic violence against women and assesses the expression of this phenomenon in the context of a society approach. The statistical construct of this phenomenon confirms the assumption that the establishment of legal fundamentals for protection against violence is linked to a process of changing the society approach to this issue. The analysis of theoretical and legal discourse of domestic violence reveals that the consistent implementation of the strategy of legal protection of victims against domestic violence has enabled the creation of a specialized comprehensive assistance infrastructure system throughout the country, which provides access to appropriate medical, psychological, legal assistance and at the same time entitles the society to develop prevention programmes that help to establish intolerance towards violence. The Republic of Lithuania Law on Protection against Domestic Violence (2011) has laid strong foundations for the establishment of specialized assistance centres and implies the development of necessary infrastructure.

This paper analyzes the changes of the property crime (theft) dynamics and location in Klaipeda city during 1990–2015 years assessing the expression of this phenomenon in the context of changing society. Using theories of the Chicago School of sociology (R. Park and E. Burgess C. Show, H. M. McKay) and the critical insights of its interpretations (E. Sutherland L. Cohen, M. Fels et al.) that allow to us to understand the phenomenon of crime not only in the wide geographic space, but also in the localized environment. The authors present an analysis of territorial clusters (neighborhoods) where phenomenon of theft in Klaipėda is the most located. Assessing geographical, social, economic development of the city regions the authors disclosed the “hottest” points of city in which were recorded this offense. Assessing the considering the geographical, social, economic development of city regions were disclosed the “hottest” city points, where are recorded this offense. Dynamics of this process analyzes in the frame of selected four (1990–1994; 1995–1999; 2000–2004; 2005–2009) periods. The authors, based on forecasts of Lithuanian criminologists about crime trends in Lithuania until 2015, presents their own scientific insights and assessments, which may be useful in developing strategies for the prevention of theft in Klaipėda.