NCJ Number
88240
Date Published
1982
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the operations of the Dutch juvenile justice system, recent modifications in the system that encourage diversion, and current processing problems and possible solutions.
Abstract
Criminal responsibility is fixed at 12 years and criminal majority at 18 years. The police have great discretionary powers in dealing with juveniles. Judges can sentence juveniles to a reprimand, a fine, or a supervision order. One of the major problems with the system is the existence of a small but intractable category of hardcore delinquents who cannot be helped or integrated into society. All the social services and institutions fail to habilitate these youths, and they are finally sent to adult institutions. There are agencies and procedures within the system which act to divert youngsters out of the courts; many alternative social agencies have also been developed because of dissatisfaction with official agencies. The system has thus far been unable to meet the demands of several groups, including runaways, vagrant youths, drug-using youth, and minority minors. Judges need to have alternative sanctions available. Two proposed sanctions are the provision of social skills training and the use of educative work activities to be performed at leisure time. Organizational charts and 27 references are supplied.