Fading away of frontiers

KESSLER, GABRIEL

Londres, London School of Economics

Workshop; Youth Violence in Latin America; 2005

London School of Economics

This presentation is based on research carried out in greater Buenos Aires on young men from popular sectors who have committed crimes against property.  It shows the emergence of a sector of the population that, neither worker nor ?professional criminal,? survives on the basis of a combination of legal and illegal activities.  In the first place, the impact of growing instability and precariousness of the job market that has characterized the transition from a worker-oriented to a ?supplier-oriented? workplace is analyzed.  Secondly, the socialization process of these young men is examined, as well as the ways it differs from that of gangs in other countries.  Next, the different dimensions of the criminal activity in question is delved into:  the young men?s? relationship with the police, with firearms and with their victims. This profile doesn´t fit the imagen that juvenil justice has of "young delinquentes". In addition, in the 90´s there was a decrease in the average age of people arrested and convicted. For this reason, the closing section will focuse on the situation of juveniles in both the courts and the penal systems, taking a closer look at the changes produced in recent years.