Youth crime on the rise: Birgit Wiktorowski fights for solutions!

Youth crime on the rise: Birgit Wiktorowski fights for solutions!

In northern Saxony, the number of juvenile crimes is increasing, and not exactly by too little. Children as young as 14 are often confronted with serious crimes. Drug consumption, drug-related crime and family problems are among the main causes of this alarming trend, as lvz.de reports. This mainly has to do with the fact that many young people come from troubled families in which violence, alcohol and drugs are the order of the day.

Birgit Wiktorowski, an experienced social worker at Awo, has been involved in outpatient help for offenders for almost 20 years. Her approach is clear: she wants to help young people who are often referred to her by the justice system or other authorities. Their work covers a wide range of offerings – from anti-theft courses and social training courses to intensive individual case assistance and traffic instruction.

Insights into the youth welfare system

A key aspect of Wiktorowski's work is the care instructions, which usually last between six and twelve months and are ordered by the court. These measures aim to not only help young people deal with their problems, but also to initiate a positive turn in their lives.

The numbers speak for themselves: In 2024, a total of 1,243 suspects were registered in the Torgau police station. These included 79 children and 101 adolescents. Of particular concern is the rise in bullying crimes, which have increased in recent years. This also includes coercion and the distribution of manipulated images.

Another challenge is the increase in acquisitive crime, which is often instigated by circles of friends. It turns out that classic crimes such as shoplifting have decreased, but the problems are more diverse than ever. In her work, Wiktorowski often has to deal with issues such as school attendance and debt settlement. The success rate of the care instructions was around 50 percent in 2024, so that this not only punishes, but also provides lasting help.

Prevention on multiple levels

The increasing youth crime makes it necessary to actively design preventive measures. The Federal Ministry of Youth Affairs is intensively concerned with the prevention of child and youth crime. It promotes specialist discussions and develops action strategies to better protect children and young people. As bmfsfj.de shows, the focus is on the social challenges and experiences of violence among young people.

The importance of cooperation between youth welfare services, schools and the police cannot be overestimated. Only through close cooperation can preventive measures be successfully implemented. This happens primarily at the local level, where implementation is constitutionally anchored in the hands of the states and municipalities.

Northern Saxony shows how important it is to recognize the needs of the young people affected and to offer them targeted support and perspectives. The focus is on the idea of ​​education, because it is often shown that a good dialogue between young people, their parents and the authorities is the key to ultimately promoting positive development.

Crime and violence prevention has evolved over the years, and work across institutions is increasingly seen as essential to counteract further problems in the future. It is to be hoped that the continuous work that Birgit Wiktorowski is doing will pave a better path for many young people.