NCJ Number
67711
Journal
MANATSSCHRIFT FUER KRIMINOLOGIE UND STRAFRECHTSREFORM Volume: 61 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1978) Pages: 95-103
Date Published
1978
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE TEN WORK GROUPS ON YOUNG ADULTS AND CRIMINAL LAW AT THE SEVENTEENTH GERMAN JUVENILE COURT CONFERENCE IN SAARBRUCKEN (1977) ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
THE WORK GROUPS RELATED TO DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, CRIME PREVENTION, REACTION TO MASS CRIMES, DARK FIGURES AND SELECTION, CRIME PREDICTION, POLICY INSTRUCTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS, JUVENILE ARREST, PROBATION AND JUVENILE COURT ASSISTANCE, JUVENILE CORRECTIONS, AND THE SPECIAL 'PROBATION IN FREEDOM' SYSTEM. THE GROUPS RECOMMENDED THAT JUVENILE LAW BE APPLIED WITHOUT EXCEPTION TO 18-TO-21-YEAR-OLDS, ALTHOUGH DISSENTING OPINIONS BELIEVE THAT EXCEPTIONS SHOULD BE MADE FOR SERIOUS CRIMES SUCH AS TERRORIST VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL MURDERS AND FOR PARTICULARLY HARDENED YOUNG CRIMINALS WHO NEGATIVELY INFLUENCE OTHERS. FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THAT YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS NOT BE RELEASED FROM INSTITUTIONS WITHOUT PROPER REVIEW JUST TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING, AND THAT DETENTION PENDING INVESTIGATION FOR JUVENILES AND YOUNG ADULTS BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM THAT FOR ADULTS. 'PROBATION IN FREEDOM' WITH REGULAR THERAPY WAS AGREED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL SANCTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS, REQUIRING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROBATION OFFICERS. THE PROPOSAL THAT YOUNG OFFENDERS BE PERMITTED TO ATTEND VOLUNTARY TRAINING COURSES INSTEAD OF REMAINING IN DETENTION WAS ADOPTED, NOTWITHSTANDING CRITICISM OF THE VAGUE NOTION OF 'COURSES' AS UNREALISTIC. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED A SHORT-TERM DETENTION PERIOD FOR DIAGNOSIS BEFORE PROBATION, DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING COURSE MODELS, OFFICIAL JUVENILE OFFICE APPOINTMENTS OF SOCIAL ASSISTANTS FOR DEALING WITH YOUNG ADULTS, FURTHER DIFFERENTIATION OF INSTITUTIONS BY OFFENDER AGE, NO DECRIMINALIZATION OF MASS OFFENSES, JUDICIAL MEASURES TO SPEED UP PROCEEDINGS FOR MASS CRIMES. IT WAS ALSO AGREED THAT JUVENILE COURT ASSISTANTS MAY NOT USE OFFENDERS' PARENTS AS INFORMATION SOURCES AGAINST THE WILL OF THE YOUNG OFFENDERS. THE NEED FOR GENERAL REFORM OF JUVENILE CRIMINAL LAW WAS STRESSED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)