Juvenile Crime In Italy: An Empirical Analysis Between Social Inequalities And Educational Policies

Abstract

Over the last few decades, Italy has witnessed a worrying increase in juvenile crime rates, paralleled by a progressive reduction in public investment in the school and education sector. This study investigates the possible correlation between these two phenomena, questioning the impact that state disengagement in education may have had and may continue to have on the development of conditions of social marginalization and youth deviance. Through a quantitative analysis of ISTAT and Ministry of the Interior data (2010-2023), integrated with a critical review of educational policies, the article aims to demonstrate how the decrease in resources for schools, especially in chronically high socio-economic vulnerability areas, coincides with an increase in offenses committed by minors. The results of this article would suggest that the reduction in school services, curricular activities, and psycho-pedagogical support may have contributed to creating an "educational void," pushing a segment of young people toward illegal behavior.