NCJ Number
82840
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Dated: (1980) Pages: 392-400
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Social assistance measures are becoming an increasingly important component of the juvenile justice system's sanctioning of juvenile delinquents. West German juvenile justice laws should formally specify reintegration instruction for delinquents as a sentencing alternative.
Abstract
Under present juvenile justice law, such courses can be provided by private social assistance agencies in cooperation with probation and juvenile justice professionals. A pilot project is underway in Stuttgart, where the program offers 30 instruction hours in a series of 2-hour sessions. Subjects include employment seeking, time management, knowledge of the law, and governmental and social institutions. Classes are intended for four to eight juveniles designated to attend by decision of a juvenile judge with recommendations from juvenile assistance and probation workers. Selection criteria are evidenced socialization and education deficits. Instructors are professional youth counselors, psychologists, educators, attorneys, and other specialists. Juvenile justice authorities are responsible for the external supervision of the program; internal management and quality control is maintained by the program implementors. Instructional areas needed by juveniles in which course materials are lacking include alcohol and drug abuse, interpersonal relationships, and coping with emotions. Materials are being prepared on money management as an initial effort in providing instructional aids for courses of this kind. Financing issues and the matter of finding providers of the service remain to be resolved.