die  Jugendkriminalität

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈjuːɡntskʁɪmɪnaˌlɪtɛːt/

📖 What does Jugendkriminalität mean?

The German word die Jugendkriminalität refers to criminal offenses committed by young people, specifically Jugendlichen (juveniles, typically aged 14-17 in Germany) or Heranwachsenden (young adults, aged 18-20). It's an umbrella term for all criminal acts within these age groups, ranging from theft and property damage to violent crimes.

The German juvenile justice system (Jugendstrafrecht - JGG) takes the age and developmental stage of the offenders into account, primarily aiming for education and rehabilitation (Erziehung und Resozialisierung) rather than solely punishment (Strafe).

⚠️ The term covers a broad spectrum of offenses and crimes and is often discussed in societal debates about safety and upbringing.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Insights

The word Jugendkriminalität is a feminine noun. It is typically only used in the singular form as it describes a concept.

Article: die

Gender: Feminine

Number: Mostly used in singular.

Declension (Singular)

Example Sentences

1. Die Jugendkriminalität ist in den letzten Jahren leicht gesunken. (Juvenile delinquency has slightly decreased in recent years.)
2. Die Ursachen der Jugendkriminalität sind vielfältig. (The causes of juvenile delinquency are diverse.)
3. Mit Präventionsprogrammen will man der Jugendkriminalität entgegenwirken. (They want to counteract juvenile delinquency with prevention programs.)
4. Die Polizei untersucht die aktuelle Jugendkriminalität in der Stadt. (The police are investigating the current juvenile delinquency in the city.)

🗣️ How is 'Jugendkriminalität' used?

The term Jugendkriminalität is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Law and Justice: In connection with juvenile law (Jugendstrafrecht), court proceedings, and police statistics.
• Sociology and Criminology: When analyzing the causes, patterns, and societal impacts of offenses committed by young people.
• Media Reporting: Often in news and discussions about security, social problems, and educational issues.
• Politics: In debates about prevention strategies, tougher penalties, or social programs.

It's a rather formal term, rarely used in everyday colloquial language unless specifically discussing this topic.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic: Remember that the general word for 'crime' or 'criminality' in German is die Kriminalität, which is feminine. Adding Jugend (youth) at the beginning doesn't change the gender. So, it's die Jugendkriminalität.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Jugend (youth) + Kriminalität (criminality). So, it logically refers to criminality specifically associated with Jugend (youth).

↔️ Opposites and Similar Terms: Jugendkriminalität

🚨 Similar, but distinct terms:

• Jugendstrafrecht: This is the area of law dealing with juvenile delinquency, not the delinquency itself.
• Verwahrlosung: Neglect; can be a cause of Jugendkriminalität, but isn't the same thing.

😄 A Little Chuckle

Fragt der Richter den jugendlichen Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie denn die Kaugummis geklaut?"
Antwortet der Jugendliche: "Ich wollte nur sehen, ob mein Geschmack kriminell gut ist!"

Translation: The judge asks the young defendant: "Why did you steal the chewing gum?"
The youth replies: "I just wanted to see if my taste was criminally good!"

(Please note: This is a harmless joke and not intended to trivialize juvenile delinquency.)

📜 A Little Poem

Jung sein, Grenzen testen, klar,
doch führt der Weg manchmal zu weit, fürwahr.
Die Jugendkriminalität, ein ernstes Wort,
zeigt auf den falschen, düsteren Ort. Statt Strafe soll Erziehung stehen,
um neue, bessere Pfade zu gehen.

Translation:
Being young, testing limits, clearly,
but the path sometimes leads too far, truly.
Juvenile delinquency, a serious word,
points to the wrong, dark place, unheard.
Instead of punishment, education should stand,
to walk new, better paths across the land.

🕵️‍♀️ Who or What Am I?

Ich beschreibe Taten, nicht von Alten,
sondern von Jungen, die Regeln missachteten.
Im Gesetzbuch bin ich ein spezielles Feld,
das oft die Gesellschaft in Sorge hält.
Mein erster Teil meint junge Jahre,
mein zweiter illegale Ware(n) oder Gefahr.

Wer bin ich?

Translation:
I describe deeds, not by the old,
But by the young, who broke the mold.
In the law books, I'm a special field,
Often causing society concern to be revealed.
My first part means young years, you see,
My second, illegal goods or jeopardy.

Who am I?

Solution: die Jugendkriminalität

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition:

The word Jugendkriminalität is a compound noun, composed of:

• die Jugend: Meaning 'youth', the period between childhood and adulthood.
• die Kriminalität: Meaning 'criminality', the commission of criminal offenses.

Societal Relevance: Jugendkriminalität is an important indicator of social conditions and challenges within a society. Statistics and analyses related to it are often used to develop or adapt preventive measures and social programs.