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Youth Groups: Urban Leisure, Control and Crime

The project examines youth groups and group crime in urban spaces, as well as the control of youth in groups. The consortium project brings youth research and criminology into active dialogue in a new way, combining ethnographic, survey and register data. By studying young people’s group relations in a multidisciplinary way and using different methods, we will gain insight into how leisure opportunities, youth cultural and group-related factors and control prevent and push young people towards crime.

The aim of the research is to produce high quality academic knowledge to inform the current public debate on youth crime, urban leisure and street gangs and the relationships between them. By providing new insights into the views and experiences of young people, we will create a deep and articulated understanding of the phenomenon and new concepts for tackling it.

The consortium includes the Finnish Youth Research Society, University of Helsinki and the University of Turku.

Start year:
2025
End year:
2029

Project Director

Sofia Laine

Arts and culture Covid-19 Criminality Crises and conflicts Democracy Education Ethics and methods Inclusion and participation Leisure time Planetary youth research Politics Regular data collection Social relationships Values and attitudes Well-being Work and livelihood Youth cultures Youth work

PhD, title of docent in Youth Research (University of Tampere)
Research Professor
+358 44 416 5374
sofia.laine@youthresearch.fi

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Project Researchers

Antti Kivijärvi

Criminality Cultural diversity Equality Ethics and methods Gender Inclusion and participation Leisure time Regular data collection Services Social relationships Values and attitudes Youth cultures Youth work

Doctor of Social Sciences
Senior Researcher
040 062 4689
antti.kivijarvi@youthresearch.fi

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Helena Huhta

Doctor of Social Sciences
Postdoctoral researcher, visiting researcher
+358 40 766 6890
helena.huhta@youthresearch.fi

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