This paper discusses results from a survey of public attitudes towards juvenile crime
and the treatment of juvenile offenders in Romania. The study is based on research
conducted as part of an MSc in Community Safety at Leicester University. Studies
examining public opinion and crime are new to Romania – indeed, this survey
represents the first attempt to explore such subjects. Results show that public opinion
is inconsistent, with ambivalent attitudes about juvenile crime and sentencing; people
concurrently favour retribution and tougher sentences for juvenile offenders, while
supporting elements of restorative justice and non custodial penalties. Explanations
for such contradictory views include inaccurate knowledge about juvenile crime,
prejudices and distorted media reporting.