NCJ Number
67336
Date Published
1976
Length
3 pages
Annotation
POLICE EFFORTS AT JUVENILE CRIME PREVENTION IN THE WEST GERMAN CITY OF HAMBURG ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
HAMBURG, WITH ITS EXTENSIVE RED-LIGHT DISTRICT WHERE JUVENILES CAN HIDE OR WORK AS PROSTITUTES, FACES A PARTICULAR JUVENILE CRIME PROBLEM. IN 1974, HAMBURG HAD OVER 1,600 JUVENILE CRIME VICTIMS, 2,000 VIOLENT OFFENDERS (MOST OF THEM ROCKERS), AND A STAGGERING CHILD THEFT RATE. THE NEED TO PREVENT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY LED IN 1964 TO THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL JUVENILE PROTECTION TEAM CONSISTING OF YOUNG MALE AND FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS. THE TEAM WORKS IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH SOCIAL WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, IS FAMILIAR WITH THE JUVENILE SCENE, AND FREQUENTS MEETING POINTS EVEN WHEN NO 'PROFESSIONAL' REASON EXISTS. THE FORMULA FOR THEIR VERY SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS IS THAT THE OFFICERS STAY WITH THEIR TEAM LONGER THAN ORDINARY OFFICERS AND SO BECOME EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS. IN ADDITION, THE POSITION OF 'TRAFFIC INSTRUCTOR,' WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC SAFETY, HAS BECOME A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR CRIME PREVENTION. THE CHILDREN BECOME ATTACHED TO THE OFFICER, AND THE INFORMATION THE OFFICER OBTAINS GOES FAR BEYOND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. HAMBURG'S ROCKER PROBLEM IS ONLY IN PART A JUVENILE ONE SINCE THE MAJORITY OF OFFENDERS IS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 YEARS OF AGE. A SPECIAL TEAM DEALS WITH THE 38 PERCENT OF JUVENILE ROCKERS. THE GROUP OF 14 OFFICERS IS FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE MEETING PLACES AND KNOWS EACH ROCKER BY NAME AND NICKNAME. THE MERE POLICE PRESENCE AT GATHERING PLACES HAS PREVENTED MANY ACTS OF BRUTALITY. THE CITY OF HAMBURG CONSTANTLY UPDATES AND SUPPLEMENTS OFFICER TRAINING THROUGH WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, AND WEEKEND SEMINARS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)