Preventive Detention for Juveniles

• NCJ Number: 79131
• Author(s): J Junger-Tas; A A van derZee-Nefkens
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 67 pages
• Corporate Author: Netherlands Ministerie Van Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Country: Netherlands
• Note: Onderzoek en beleid series, number 15.

Annotation

The study examines trends in juvenile crime in the Netherlands, characteristics of juveniles placed in preventive detention, and the reasons for detention of certain juveniles.

Abstract

Juveniles' characteristics and reasons for placement are determined through study of 765 dossiers of juveniles detained in 1977 and interviews with officials of the public prosecutor's office and juvenile judges. Statistics show that juvenile conviction rates have flattened out since 1970 and that the juvenile crime rate has even dropped slightly since 1975. Thus, while juvenile crime rates increased rapidly from 1950 to 1970, since that time rates for individual crimes have stabilized except in the case of vandalism. Study results show that most convicted juveniles are male, that many are unemployed, and that the most common offense is property crimes. About a fourth of the group examined has previous convictions. Placement of juveniles in detention has increased in recent years. Detention lasts less than a month for just under 59 percent of the detained juveniles. Juveniles who have no fixed address, who are unemployed, or who are foreigners have an above average chance of being placed in preventive detention. About 55 percent of the juveniles are placed in detention facilities, while 40 percent are placed in reception centers. Older juveniles, aggressive juveniles, girls, and foreigners are especially likely to be placed in detention facilities. The most important factors for placement in detention are seriousness of the offense, unemployment, and school nonattendance. It can be concluded from the study results that there are not enough slots available in reception centers. Juveniles must thus frequently be placed in detention centers. Furthermore, the criminal justice system seems to follow the policy of placing the serious offenders but also the older or more aggressive juveniles in detention facilities. Younger delinquents are placed in reception centers, but the detention period is longer and suspensions are less frequent than for juveniles in detention facilities. The author emphasizes that the guidelines for the placement of juveniles in detention should be reconsidered. Notes, tables, and appendixes with further extensive tables are supplied.