Theory and Practice of 'Police Management in Juvenile Matters'

• NCJ Number: 73946
• Journal: Kriminalistik Volume: 31 Issue: 7 Dated: (1977) Pages: 302-309
• Author(s): V W Wehner-Davin
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)
• Note: Revised text of a paper given at a Symposium of Juvenile Criminality.

Annotation

Contradictions between the theory and practice of police work with juveniles, efforts of female police officers in this area, and specific attempts to improve juvenile work in separate States of West Germany are discussed.

Abstract

According to the police service regulations, police are to use specifically defined procedures in dealing with juvenile delinquents and juveniles at risk. In practice, however, there is a shortage of properly trained personnel to handle such cases. The women's police service positions created in the 1920's were expected to fill this gap, but when the women's movement blossomed in the 1960's, few women were willing to limit their activities to juvenile work, which held little promise of advancement. A number of different approaches have been used in attempting to cope with the problems of police juvenile work. Most of the more successful programs employ patrol officers and/or streetworkers to work directly with juveniles. The most serious obstacle encountered by police departments is the intense competition among institutions responsible for juveniles. Justification of police juvenile work has been questioned in some quarters, but the police serve an essential purpose in drawing clearcut lines to guide juvenile behavior. Furthermore, police investigative efforts are essential to determine crucial questions regarding the criminal responsibility of juveniles: the police require the facts necessary for decisions of the juvenile courts and juvenile authorities. Police also gain an impression of juveniles and their parents on the basis of firsthand interviews. Police responsibilities also include such tasks as locating missing minors, which requires an extensive knowledge of schools and juvenile hangouts, as well as numerous contacts. To accomplish this work effectively, it is recommended that juvenile police specialists of the future be trained in both social work and police work and that the special training be supplemented with practical experience in both areas. Notes are supplied.