Youth care within the criminal justice framework
141,000 crime suspects by 2024, 11% of whom are minors
13 suspects per 1,000 peers among minors (ages 12-18)
17 suspects per 1,000 peers among young adults(18-23 years)
Case study – Jesse
Jesse is 14 years old and growing up in a vulnerable home environment. His parents struggle with addiction and serious financial problems. There is little stability or structure at home. Jesse is having a hard time—he frequently skips school and is falling further behind. During this period, he comes into contact with a group of peers who regularly cross boundaries. With them, he feels seen and part of something. Together, they begin pushing limits more and more, until things escalate into an armed robbery. Jesse is arrested and convicted, but after his release, little changes. There is no support, and his home situation remains the same. He returns to the same environment and the same group of friends.
When different parties from the youth justice system and the social domain come together in a structured school-based meeting, a more complete picture of Jesse emerges. The focus is no longer solely on the offence or his truancy, but also on his home situation, his parents’ problems, and his peer group. In these meetings, professionals share concerns and coordinate their efforts.
The municipality provides support to the family, and Jesse receives help for his own challenges, including guidance focused on school, improving his self-image, and building daily structure. The school is supported by youth probation officers and youth workers, who engage with Jesse, his peer group, and his parents to discuss peer pressure and the consequences of criminal behaviour. Jesse’s parents also receive appropriate support through the municipality. Thanks to this joint effort, the risk of reoffending is reduced, and Jesse gains greater stability, safety, and a sense of perspective.
where do we see opportunity for improvement?
If we want to prevent youth crime and reoffending, we need to address the root causes of criminal behaviour. We see the following opportunities for improvement:
- Sufficient (forensic) help available
Being able to deploy appropriate (forensic) youth help in a timely manner is crucial. Waiting times or a limited supply ensure that problems worsen and the risk of recidivism increases. - Deploy expertise earlier, at the front
By deploying knowledge about the target group and risk factors as early as the first signals or a first police contact, support can be provided more quickly and in a more focused way and escalation can be prevented. This requires better use of data. - Good aftercare after completion of a sentence
Continuity of support is needed after a criminal justice measure has ended. A warm transfer to the district team or other help prevents young people from falling between two stools after completion. - More focus on supporting parents
Parental problems, such as debt, mental health issues or addiction, often have a direct impact on young people. Supporting parents as well increases the likelihood of lasting change. - More effective use of extrajudicial settlements
More effective use of existing options outside the criminal justice system, such as school measures, area settlements or interventions through the social realm, can prevent young people from unnecessarily moving further down the criminal justice chain.
What is needed?
To provide appropriate support to young people, it is essential to identify their challenges early, to look beyond the individual and consider their parents and living environment, and to offer timely and suitable care and support. At the heart of this is strong collaboration between municipalities (social domain and public order and safety) and partners in the youth justice system!
More specifically:
- Create awareness about this specific target group and the importance of prevention
Professionals and administrators should have a good understanding of the specific characteristics and risks of this target group. - Commit to prevention
- Respond early to initial warning signs, such as school dropout, by providing the right support. Use the knowledge and experience of forensic care providers in a preventive way as well—for example, through interventions like KansRIJKoffered by youth probation services.
- Utilize existing laws and regulations for data sharing
The opportunities that laws and regulations already offer for sharing data are not always fully utilized yet. By using this space carefully, cooperation can be strengthened and support can be designed more effectively. - Ensure proper transfer upon completion of probation
Upon completion of a criminal justice program, careful transfer to the district team or other local support is essential to ensure continuity and prevent relapse. - Also support parents as an integral part of the approach
Not only the young person, but also parents often need support, for example with financial problems, addiction or mental health issues. Strengthening the family increases the chances of sustainable behavioral change. - Also use interventions outside the criminal justice system
An effective approach requires more than criminal justice alone. By also utilizing existing interventions outside the criminal justice chain, such as measures at school, at sports clubs or in the living environment, earlier and more appropriate interventions can be taken and the pressure on the criminal justice chain is reduced.
Our approach
EHdK supports care and youth justice partners in strengthening collaboration, ensuring that professionals and decision-makers can connect at all levels. We translate collaboration into concrete, actionable steps that help prevent youth crime and reoffending.
What can we do?
- Mapping facts and figures on demand and supply of forensic care
- Bringing parties together to arrive at a vision for the forensic care landscape and an appropriate procurement strategy
- Support providers in the (joint) development of new forensic care services
- Developing and implementing a new approach that requires multi-agency collaboration in the areas of prevention, enforcement, and aftercare.
- Organising substantive and thematic sessions to inform professionals about the theme of Youth and Safeguarding, to inspire them, and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experiences.
Current situation
Improving collaboration between the social domain and the youth justice system requires persistence. EHdK supports commissioning bodies in designing and implementing partnerships that make a tangible difference for young people, families, and professionals.
Promising steps are already being taken in several places. At both regional and national levels, we are working to improve the availability of youth care within the criminal justice framework by mapping shortages and sharing these insights with youth care regions, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), and the Ministry of Justice and Security.
We are also focused on increasing municipalities’ knowledge of the target group and forensic care, in order to improve the commissioning of forensic services and ultimately strengthen the regional offer. To support this, we assist youth care regions in the commissioning process and organised the Youth and Safeguarding seminar in 2023 at De Lik in Utrecht.
In the eastern Netherlands, we launched the two-year Youth and Safeguarding programme to strengthen collaboration between municipalities and youth justice partners. This included supporting new local collaboration initiatives focused on prevention, and organising sessions where professionals from both domains could meet regularly.
More?
Would you like to explore how EHdK can support your organisation on this theme? Get in touch with our colleague Nadine de Kort-Biekart.