NCJ Number
61349
Date Published
1978
Length
54 pages
Annotation
OBJECTIVES, TREATMENT, AND POPULATIONS OF DUTCH INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES ARE REVIEWED, EFFORTS TO EVALUATE TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE EXAMINED, AND ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONS ARE PROPOSED.
Abstract
THREE CATEGORIES OF CHILDREN GO THROUGH THE DUTCH JUVENILE SYSTEM: CHILDREN UNDER GUARDIANSHIP (THOSE WHOSE PARENTS ARE DEPRIVED OF THEIR PARENTAL RIGHTS), CHILDREN UNDER SUPERVISION OF A FAMILY-GUARDIAN (THOSE THREATENED WITH MORAL OR PHYSICAL DANGER), AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS (WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE). AS OF JULY 1, 1976, THERE WERE 295 INSTITUTIONS WITH A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 17,500 PLACES. TWO MAIN TYPES OF HOMES ARE THE SMALL HOMES FOR WORKING AND STUDYING YOUTH AND HOMES FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS. MORE SPECIALIZED HOMES ALSO EXIST, INCLUDING THOSE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, DIAGNOSTIC, HOMES, AND CRISIS CENTERS. ALTHOUGH MANY TYPES OF INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT ARE AVAILABLE, SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION STUDIES OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE ALMOST NONEXISTENT. EVALUATIONS OF THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY SPECIAL YOUTH CARE, THE PSYCHIATRIC YOUTH CENTER 'ZANDWIJK,' AND THE HELDRING FOUNDATIONS IN ZETTEN POINT TO THE CONCLUSION THAT INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT OF JUVENILES HAS NO EFFECT ON DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. THE DISILLUSIONMENT WITH INSTITUTIONAL TREATMENT HAS LED TO THREE MAIN TRENDS: TREATMENT IN THE JUVENILE'S OWN ENVIRONMENT, CHANGES IN INSTITUTIONS, AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN AFTERCARE, SUCH AS HOSTELS AND SUPERVISED LODGINGS. TABLES AND REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)