NCJ Number
87132
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: (1982) Pages: 263-272
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Probation and court assistance to foreign juvenile delinquents in West Germany is complicated by the authority of the aliens' bureau, which has discretionary power to expel criminal offenders from the country, regardless of their status as juveniles or adults.
Abstract
A study examined case records of some 300 foreign juvenile delinquents handled by West Berlin alien authorities between 1976 and 1978. Of these, 80 were expelled from the country and 36 others had their residency permits revoked. The offenses (mostly simple theft) of the foreign juveniles were not significantly different from those committed by German youths receiving probation sentences. In half of the foreign cases, juvenile justice proceedings were not brought to a conclusion. The data indicate a strong bias of the aliens' agency toward exile of criminally involved foreign youths, coupled with a reluctance to refer cases for juvenile assistance services. New regulations have been instituted in Berlin to correct these practices. A review of 204 W. Berlin cases of foreign juveniles placed under the probation service between 1972 and 1978 reveals insights into the social background, personal and offense characteristics of the delinquents, as well as the problems facing social workers in dealing witn non-German clients. Four footnotes are provided.