NCJ Number
57042
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF DELINQUENCY PREVENTION EFFORTS BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE POLICE, AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOCIAL WORK AGENCIES IN THE NETHERLANDS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION IS TO COMPARE THE DELINQUENCY PREVENTION APPROACHES OF DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND TO DEFINE THE OUTLINES OF A PREVENTION MODEL. RESEARCH EVIDENCE ON THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN GENERATING DELINQUENCY IS CITED, AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION PROGRAMS WITHIN THE DUTCH SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES, AND CLIENTELE OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPRIVED CHILDREN. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE THE PREVENTION ROLES OF BOTH UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS AND SPECIALIZED 'CHILDREN'S POLICE,' OF GOVERNMENT COUNCILS THAT PROVIDE CASEWORK SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH JUVENILE COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND OF PRIVATE AGENCIES THAT OFFER ASSISTANCE TO YOUTHS WITH PROBLEMS. THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORT IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTS THE MOST DIRECT APPROACH TO PREVENTING DELINQUENCY. INTERVENTION BY THE POLICE AND BY GOVERNMENT COUNCILS TAKES PLACE AFTER THE FACT. PRIVATE, 'ALTERNATIVE' SOCIAL AGENCIES ARE CONCERNED MORE WITH HELPING INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS RESOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS THAN WITH PREVENTING DELINQUENCY. DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN PURPOSE AND STRATEGY, TWO BASIC PRINCIPLES UNDERLIE THE PREVENTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF ALL THE INSTITUTIONS EXAMINED: (1) THE VIEW THAT DELINQUENCY REFLECTS PROBLEMS IN THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT RATHER THAN DEEP-SEATED PERSONALITY PROBLEMS, AND (2) A CONSENSUS THAT ALMOST ANYTHING SHOULD BE DONE TO AVOID INVOLVING YOUNGSTERS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE FOLLOWING DEFINITION APPEARS TO BE EMERGING: 'DELINQUENCY PREVENTION ENCOMPASSES ALL ACTIVITIES DESTINED TO SOLVE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF THE JUVENILE, AND LEAVES OUT ACTIONS THAT WOULD HARM THAT INTEGRATION BY SETTING THE JUVENILE APART FROM HIS PEERS.' A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)