Abstract

The users-flow analysis carried out over the last fifteen years by the Juvenile justice services shows a recent and gradual shift in the profiles of the foreign component. The presence of foreign unaccompanied minors has been decreasing in the course of the last 7 years, though they still represent the vast majority of this group. Conversely, the group of second generation migrants -either born in Italy or arrived with their family before reaching majority—has been increasing. Using sociological and criminological approaches, this paper provides an overview of the historical, political economic and institutional factors influencing this phenomenon.