Tirana, April 14, 2026 - Today, the Law Department at EPOKA University hosted an Open Forum titled “Criminological Perspectives on the Prevention of Juvenile and Youth Crime”, bringing together practitioners and students to discuss one of the most pressing issues in contemporary criminal justice: the prevention of youth offending and effective rehabilitation strategies.

The forum, held at the Eagle Meeting Room, was organized within the framework of the Criminology course and moderated by Dr. Alba Gerdeci. The event featured distinguished guest speakers, including Klaudia Hasanllari, Director of the National Center for the Prevention of Juvenile and Youth Crime (CJYCC); Lindona Gega, Specialist in the Sector for Drafting Rehabilitation Plans and Specialized Programs at CJYCC; and Brunilda Halili, National Community Safety Officer at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

The discussion focused on criminological approaches to understanding juvenile delinquency, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, community-based strategies, and tailored rehabilitation programs. Speakers highlighted the growing complexity of youth crime, pointing to social, economic, and institutional factors that shape criminal behavior among young people in Albania.

A key highlight of the forum was the presentation of the “S’ka Shkurt” (No Shortcuts) campaign, developed in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. This online awareness initiative aims to support preventive policies against early criminality and recidivism among young people. Through a series of awareness-raising videos, minors in conflict with the law shared their personal experiences, reflecting on how they became involved in criminal activities and the consequences they faced. Their testimonies conveyed a powerful message: what may appear to be a “shortcut” often leads further into the criminal world, with lasting and serious consequences.

Students actively engaged in the discussion, raising questions about recidivism, the impact of labeling, and the effectiveness of current rehabilitation practices. The forum provided a valuable platform for bridging academic theory with practical insights from professionals working directly in the field.

The event concluded with a call for continued dialogue and collaboration between academia, state institutions, and international organizations to address the challenges of juvenile and youth crime in Albania.