REACTIONS OF THE AGENCIES OF SOCIAL CONTROL TO CRIMES OF YOUNG FOREIGNERS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

• NCJ Number: 60810
• Journal: Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 61 Issue: 5 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 268-296
• Author(s): P A ALBRECHT; C PFEIFFER; K ZAPKA
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 29 pages
• Corporate Author: Carl Heymanns Verlag
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE BY NCJRS. SPECIFY NCJ 78597

Annotation

DATA FROM MAJOR WEST GERMAN CITIES ARE EXAMINED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF FOREIGN JUVENILES AND THE REACTIONS OF RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TO SUCH CRIMINALITY.

Abstract

UNLIKE THEIR PARENTS, THE SECOND GENERATION OF FOREIGNERS NOW GROWING UP IN WEST GERMANY OFTEN SHOWS A PARTICULARLY HIGH CRIME RATE. DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF YOUNG FOREIGNERS WAS OBTAINED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL IN 11 MAJOR GERMAN CITIES. AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATISTICAL DATA CLEARLY REVEALS THE MARGINAL STATUS OF FOREIGN DELINQUENTS. FIRST, THE CRIME RATE OF FOREIGN ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS (AGE GROUP OF 14 TO 21 YEARS) IS STRIKINGLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF THE GERMAN PEER GROUP. SECOND, THE IMMIGRATION OFFICES USE THEIR LEGAL OPTION OF DEPORTING FOREIGNERS CONVICTED OF CRIMES QUITE ARBITRARILY AND WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF JUDGES AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THIRD, IN INVESTIGATING FOREIGNER OFFENSES, THE JUDGES AND SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE PROBLEMS UNDERSTANDING THE DELINQUENTS' MOTIVES AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND. FOURTH, BECAUSE OF THE PROBABILITY OF DEPORTATION, FOREIGN CONVICTS RARELY RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF THERAPEUTIC CORRECTIONAL MEASURES; USUALLY, THEY ARE MERELY 'LOCKED AWAY.' FIFTH, DESPITE THEIR EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS, YOUNG FOREIGNERS ARE SUBJECTED TO THE DISCRIMINATION AND AGGRESSION OF GERMAN INMATES. SIXTH, MOST FOREIGNERS ARE DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR RELEASE. SEVENTH, THE SMALL GROUP OF FOREIGN PROBATIONERS SHOW A LOWER RATE OF RECIDIVISM THAN THE GERMAN PEER GROUP; THEY ARE BETTER MOTIVATED AND MORE WILLING TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PROBATION OFFICERS. FINALLY DURING THE PROBATION PERIOD, THE JUVENILE JUDGES DO THEIR BEST TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND TO THE PARTICULAR PROBLEMS OF FOREIGNERS. IN CONCLUSION, FOREIGNERS HAVING GROWN UP IN GERMANY ARE REALLY 'GERMAN' BY ACCULTURATION AND HAVE A RIGHT TO BE TREATED AS GERMAN. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE A CHANGE OF THE GERMAN ALIEN LAW AND THE PARTICIPATION OF FOREIGN ADVISORS IN THE TRIAL AND THE PROBATION PERIOD. THE STUDY CONTAINS NO ANNOTATIONS OR BIBLIOGRAPHY, BUT EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)