NCJ Number
68224
Journal
NEUE PRAXIS Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 193-202
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE POTENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE EXPERTS' DRAFT OF A REVISED WEST GERMAN JUVENILE ASSISTANCE LAW IS ASSESSED ACCORDING TO SUCH FACTORS AS ALTERATION OF REPRESSIVE MEASURES AND IMPROVEMENT OF MINORS' LEGAL POSITION.
Abstract
PROPOSED MEASURES FOR EXPANSION OF JUVENILE ASSISTANCE LAW TO PREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSISTANCE IN SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS AND SOCIAL COUNSELING. MOST MEASURES ARE UNFORTUNATELY GEARED TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, EVEN THOUGH ASSISTANCE TARGETS ARE MEMBERS OF THE LOWER CLASS. WHILE PROVISIONS SUPPORT THE RIGHT OF JUVENILES TO PARTICIPATE IN ASSISTANCE PLANNING AND TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NATURE OF JUVENILE ASSISTANCE, IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RIGHTS IS NOT CONSISTENT, AND JUVENILES ARE NOT REPRESENTED ON THE JUVENILE ASSISTANCE COMMISSION. ACCORDING TO THE NEW DRAFT, THE GOAL OF YOUTH WORK IS TO TRAIN JUVENILES TO ARTICULATE AND TO ADVOCATE THEIR OWN POLITICAL AND OTHER INTERESTS, ALTHOUGH IN PRACTICE THERE IS A TENDENCY TO TREAT JUVENILES AS OBJECTS RATHER THAN ACTIVE SUBJECTS. SINCE THE FAMILY AS AN INSTITUTION HAS SEEMINGLY LOST CONTROL, THE DRAFT PROVISIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE GRADUAL ASSUMPTION OF EDUCATION AND SOCIALIZATION FUNCTIONS BY SOCIETY AT LARGE. THEY ENCOURAGE COOPERATION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE JUVENILE ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS, EXPAND LONG-TERMS JUVENILE ASSISTANCE PLANNING REQUIREMENTS, RAISE THE EXPERTISE LEVEL DEMANDED OF JUVENILE ASSISTANTS, AND CONCENTRATE ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO JUVENILE ASSISTANCE IN AN INDEPENDENT JUVENILE OFFICE. AT THE SAME TIME, STABILIZATION AND SUPPORT OF THE FAMILY UNIT IS A CENTRAL CONCERN OF THE DRAFT, SO THAT EDUCATIONAL MEASURES ARE ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE FAMILY RATHER THAN DIRECTLY. THE FAMILY SUPPORT POLICY AS WELL AS THE TENDENCY TO EXPAND EXISTING JUVENILE ASSISTANCE ARRAGEMENTS QUANTITATIVELY BUT NOT QUALITATIVELY ARE THE RESULT OF ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE REFORM ATTRACTIVE BY HOLDING DOWN COSTS. IT IS CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT QUALITATIVELY BETTER JUVENILE ASSISTANCE CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH INCREASED FINANCIAL INVESTMENT. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS SUPPLIED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)