FrihetsNytt

Description

One reason behind Finland’s significantly lower gang crime rate is explained by the fact that children there are better equipped to resist recruitment and a higher proportion of students complete primary and secondary school with passing grades. This is stated by a well-known researcher in the field, while the most obvious explanation is conspicuously absent.

The Solution – “Meaningful Alternatives”
She believes that tougher penalties are good, but that politicians and society, in general, focus too much on the punishments instead of on dialogue with schools, teachers, and parents.

Among other things, parents need to be educated to recognize signs that their children might be involved in gangs and to provide children and young people with a positive sense of purpose in life.

— We can’t just focus on talking to children about violence and saying, “Oh no, that’s wrong.” If you have meaningful friendships and a meaningful community where you live, then joining a gang doesn’t become as appealing. I am more interested in the kind of youth we want to have instead of focusing on the kind of youth we don’t want.