Gender and age characteristics of persons who committed criminal offences in Ukraine in 2014-2024

Identifying trends in the gender and age characteristics of criminal offenders is necessary for developing effective state policy in the field of crime prevention and reintegration of offenders in the post-war period. The aim of the study was to examine the dynamics and structure of crime by gender and age, and to determine the impact of socio-economic, political and psychological factors on the behaviour of offenders. The methodological basis consisted of statistical, comparative-analytical, criminological and systemic-structural methods. The empirical base was formed on the basis of official data from the Office of the Prosecutor General and the results of scientific research. The results of the study showed that during the period under review, the structure of crime in Ukraine underwent significant changes: men consistently predominate among offenders (about 88%), while women account for an average of 12%. The highest level of criminal activity was recorded among persons aged 29-39, while the proportion of minors is steadily declining. A gradual “maturing” of crime and an increase in the proportion of middle-aged and older offenders has been observed, which is associated with a decline in living standards, unemployment, psychological exhaustion and military factors. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the combination of quantitative statistical analysis with a qualitative criminological interpretation of the social processes that influence the formation of criminal behaviour in conditions of martial law. This made it possible to identify new trends in the structure of criminal activity among the population. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using its results to improve criminological forecasting, formulate state strategies for crime prevention, increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and develop targeted programmes for the social rehabilitation of individuals prone to deviant behaviour