Fritidsgårdarnas betydelse i det brottsförebyggande arbetet mot ungdomskriminalitet : En kvalitativ intervjustudie om fritidsgårdspersonalens perspektiv

Sammanfattning

The study has aimed to research how employees perceived the meaning of youth recreation centers in the efforts of crime prevention against juvenile delinquency. The study was based on semi-structured interviews with employees working at youth recreation centres. The collected material was analysed using thematic analysis and then connected to previous research and relevant criminological theories. The main result showed that the employees perceived that youth recreation centres held a significant role in crime prevention by providing adolescents with safe environments and opportunities to build positive relationships. Relationship-building was highlighted as a key factor in successful preventative work but could also be seen as a risk factor when social interactions between peers encouraged norm-breaking behaviour. The study further showed how the preventative potential of the youth recreation centres is limited by societal challenges such as a limited amount of resources. Simultaneously, a coherent collaboration between youth recreation centres and other community authorities and organisations was identified as an important strength in the preventative work.