The observance of the elements of the prison subculture among juvenile prisoners in the Republic of Moldova

This paper aims to determine the degree of compliance with the rules of the prison subculture among minors detained in the Republic of Moldova; to investigate the origins of the juvenile prison subculture and the factors contributing to its continued influence within the juvenile prisoner environment. The methods used in the preparation of this work were: the logical method (based on the inductive and deductive analysis of doctrinal opinions regarding the penitentiary subculture of minors), the empirical method (the author carried out sociological research using the method of anonymous investigation of minor detainees and of the staff of the Detention center for minors and youth Goian), the prospective method (allowed estimation of the degree of compliance with the rules of the penitentiary subculture by minor detainees) and the statistical method. Research has shown that the spread of the penitentiary subculture among minor prisoners is due to the detention of minors, until 2024, in adult detention institutions, where they were familiarised with elements of the adult prison subculture. In turn, the minor prisoners subsequently transferred to the DCMY Goian have initiated and continue to initiate the newly admitted minor prisoners into the rules and traditions of adult prisoners to date.