FOREIGN EXPERIENCE OF SOCIAL AND PEDAGOGICAL SUPPORT OF MINORS IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

Abstract

The current difficulties in Ukraine are typical for many foreign countries, as not all tasks of socio-pedagogical work have been successfully solved, for example, the level of juvenile delinquency remains quite high. Society has its system of norms and rules that contain requirements for the behavior and responsibilities of each member of society. The processes of democratization and development of civil society in Ukraine are accompanied by changes in the social sphere, social policy of various social institutions. Each state is primarily interested in creating conditions for the prevention of the commission of offenses, and not in the application of punishment to the guilty after the commission of offenses, especially in the case of juveniles. Personal qualities make it difficult to assess the situation and make adequate responsible decisions. In addition, there is a possibility that the illegal behavior of adolescents can be dangerous to both the minor, the close social environment, and society as a whole. The authors analyze the experience of supporting juveniles in conflict with the law in Japan, which remains the country with the lowest crime rate; describe the features of work of social specialists with such teenagers in the USA, Great Britain, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland. The article presents animation activities in France and the concept of «practical training» in Germany in the framework of the project «City as a school». Based on the generalization of foreign experience of socio-pedagogical support of minors in conflict with the law, the authors resume that social work is carried out in three main areas: creating a legal framework for the Institute of Juvenile Justice; creation of specialized courts that play a coordinating role in the system of prevention of juvenile delinquency; creation of special subjects of prevention.