The Recruitment of Children and Youth into Criminal Gangs in Sweden: Contributing Factors and Preventive Strategies

AbstractThis study explores the involvement of children and youth into criminal gangs in two mid-sized cities in the central south of Sweden. It focuses on the contributing factors that lead to their recruitment, and the strategies that professionals employ to prevent it. Using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews with six professionals working with the targeted groups, the study examines how those professionals perceive the recruitment of children and youth into criminal gangs. The study draws on reflexive thematic analysis and two theories: Social Learning Theory and Ecological Systems Theory to analyze the data. The results of this study were organized into three main themes: structural and social conditions influencing youth gang recruitment, professional strategies for prevention and early intervention, and challenges in cross-sectoral collaboration. The findings revealed that professionals perceive gang recruitment as a complex and socially embedded process. The study contributes to the field of social work by offering contextual insights into preventative strategies and the experiences of professionals addressing this critical social issue.