NCJ Number
55429
Journal
PRAXIS DER KINDERPSYCHOLOGIE UND KINDERPSYCHIATRIE Volume: 24 Issue: 3 Dated: (1975) Pages: 107-110
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE PRISONERS AND THEIR LIFE AT THE JUVENILE PRISON VIERLANDE IN HAMBURG-NEUENGAMME, WEST GERMANY, AS WELL AS GENERAL PROBLEMS OF JUVENILE CRIME ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE JUVENILE INMATES TEND TO BE BETWEEN 18 AND 20 YEARS OLD AND ARE MOST FREQUENTLY UNSKILLED WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF ROBBERY. THEY HAVE GENERALLY LIVED IN DEPRIVED CIRCUMSTANCES AS CHILDREN, WITHOUT MATERIAL ADVANTAGES, FAMILY WARMTH, OR ATTENTION, AND HAVE NOT HAD EVEN A MINIMUM OF EDUCATION. THE INSTITUTION PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS, TO COMPLETE EDUCATION, AND TO PURSUE HOBBIES. DESPITE SUCH RECIVIDISM AMOUNTS TO 70 TO 80 PERCENT, AND MANY INMATES DO NOT BOTHER TO TRY OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING. FURTHER ACTIVITIES, INDIVIDUAL HOUSING, WORK RELEASE PROGRAMS, AND BETTER PROBATION PROGRAMS ARE RECOMMENDED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, THE MONOTONY OF THE DAILY ROUTINE IS PORTRAYED IN AN ESSAY BY ONE OF THE INMATES. A COMPARISON OF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS IN THE GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC (GFR) AND THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (GDR) SHOWS THAT JUVENILE CRIME PEAKS EARLIER IN THE GDR (16 TO 18 YEARS OLD VERSUS 21 TO 25 YEARS OLD) AND IS HIGHER IN THE GDR (50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL CRIME RATE VERSUS 20 TO 30 PERCENT), BUT THAT MORE EFFORTS, INCLUDING PENALTIES, ARE MADE IN THE GDR TO PREVENT YOUTHFUL INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME. IT IS EMPHASIZED THAT MONEY USED FOR JAILED YOUTHS COULD BE BETTER SPENT PREVENTIVELY TO PROVIDE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED ENVIRONMENTS AND THAT PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT OF ADULTS IS REQUIRED TO RESOCIALIZE JUVENILES AT RISK AND YOUNG EX-CONVICTS. A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. -- IN GERMAN (KMD)