HANDLING OF JUVENILE CASES BY THE DUTCH POLICE

• NCJ Number: 54240
• Journal: Police Journal Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 261-265
• Author(s): M F ANDRISSEN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Justice of the Peace, Ltd
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS FACTORS AFFECTING THE POLICE HANDLING OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE EXAMINED FOR THE HAGUE AND AMSTERDAM. A SERIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO IMPROVE DUE PROCESS.

Abstract

THE TWO JUVENILE BUREAUS VARY GREATLY IN STYLE. THE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, UNIT IS QUITE POLICE ORIENTED WHILE THE HAGUE HAS A SOCIAL WELFARE OUTLOOK. IN BOTH CITIES, THERE IS LITTLE FORMAL TRAINING IN THE HANDLING OF JUVENILES. FEMALE EMPLOYEES HAVE LITTLE POLICE OR JUVENILE TRAINING. BOTH UNITS SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT DISPOSITION CRITERIA WERE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME, THE AGE OF THE SUSPECT, AND RECIDIVISM. BOTH BUREAUS ALSO CONSIDERED THE EXISTENCE OF SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. HOWEVER, IN THE HAGUE IF THERE WERE NO 'FLAGRANTE DELICTO,' THE CASE WAS TREATED LENIENTLY, WHILE IN AMSTERDAM THE DETECTIVES CONCENTRATED ON COLLECTING OTHER EVIDENCE. UNCONSCIOUS CRITERIA REFLECTED THE DIFFERENCES IN STYLE BETWEEN THE BUREAUS. THE MORE PERSONAL STYLE OF THE HAGUE MADE OFFICERS AWARE OF THE ATMOSPHERE DURING INTERROGATION; AN UNPLEASANT SUSPECT WAS MORE LIKELY TO BE PUNISHED. THE HAGUE ALSO CONSIDERED CONTACT WITH PARENTS. IF THEY FELT THERE WAS LITTLE CHANCE OF REHABILITATION AT HOME, DISPOSITION WAS LESS LENIENT. IN AMSTERDAM THREE UNCONSCIOUS CRITERIA WERE IDENTIFIED: THE COOPERATION OF THE SUSPECT, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS A GROUP (A FEELING EXISTED THAT ALL MEMBERS OF A GROUP HAD TO BE TREATED ALIKE), AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THE OFFICER HAD TO DO; IF THE OFFICER IS BUSY, THE SUSPECT IS LIKELY TO RECEIVE LENIENT TREATMENT BECAUSE THIS TOOK LESS TIME. IN THE HAGUE TWO CRITERIA WERE LINKED WITH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS: COOPERATION AND RECIDIVISM. THIS CITY HAS A SUBCULTURE WHICH IS HOSTILE TO POLICE AND HAS MORE DELINQUENCY. RECOMMENDATIONS MADE INCLUDE BETTER TRAINING FOR JUVENILE PERSONNEL, WRITTEN POLICIES, AND PROVISIONS FOR APPEAL OF POLICE DECISIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)