The Professional Response to Juvenile Delinquency in Lithuania: Pseudo-Recognition of the Child’s Needs

International standards of juvenile justice make clear that the societal response to juvenile delinquency must extend beyond sanctions and behavioral control. A child’s developmental needs and well-being must also be prioritized. However, the needs of children are complex and require the engagement of a variety of professionals and institutions. This paper presents a grounded theory study of the professional response to juvenile delinquency in Lithuania. In-depth expert interviews were conducted with 15 participants representing related professional systems in Lithuania. Responses were analyzed in relation to legal and administrative regulations relevant to juvenile delinquency. Findings indicate that the predominant strategy employed by professionals and institutions is pseudo-recognition. Pseudo-recognition is simulation of assistance but not genuine assistance. The defining feature of pseudo-recognition is inconsistency between public declarations and actual actions. It is oriented toward the interests of professionals and institutions, not the interests of juveniles. Pseudo-recognition is employed when lack of resources, pressure, and false responsibility are present. The study revealed that Lithuania’s current approach to juvenile delinquency bears traces of the Soviet legacy even 30 years since the country’s liberation from Soviet occupation. A hypothesis that pseudo-recognition in Lithuania is linked to totalitarian experience of Sovietism is offered for further research.