NCJ Number
188531
Date Published
2000
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This study examines recidivism among Dutch juveniles with a penal treatment sanction.
Abstract
The study investigates whether there were significant differences between juveniles placed in a judicial juvenile facility (PIJ), those placed in a treatment facility (BB), and those with a TBR sanction. It also compares the recidivism rate of the three groups. For this study, recidivism is defined as every judicial contact after release not leading to a dismissal on technical grounds or an acquittal. The research group consisted of 382 juveniles chosen by age, gender, ethnicity, seriousness of the committed offense, duration of the sanction, and criminal history. The group placed under PIJ contained more ethnic juveniles, and their offenses were less frequently violent and, in general, less serious. Overall recidivism rates were similar in all groups: 26 percent in the first year after termination of the sanction, 51 percent after 2 years, and 65 percent after 3 years. Factors contributing to recidivism and to new contacts with the criminal justice authorities were having a criminal record and a large number of previous contacts with the authorities, and being male. Study results show that the juveniles sentenced to the new PIJ sanction differed from the others. Tables, notes, figures, references