NCJ Number
29461
Date Published
1974
Length
135 pages
Annotation
SUMMARY OF BELGIAN LAW REGARDING JUVENILES, WITH STATISTICS ON OFFENSES COMMITTED BY JUVENILES FROM 1963 THROUGH 1970 AND THE SANCTIONS ADMINISTERED.
Abstract
THE ACCURACY OF THE STATISTICS IS AFFECTED BY SUCH FACTORS AS THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE, THE TYPES OF BEHAVIOR THAT ARE OR ARE NOT MADE OFFENSES UNDER THE LAW, POLICE AND JUVENILE COURT DISCRETION, GAPS AND MISTAKES IN THE STATISTICS, AND SUCH VARIABLE FACTORS AS THE AMOUNT OF SPACE AVAILABLE IN INSTITUTIONS FOR JUVENILES. THE AUTHOR ADVOCATES A RETURN TO PUNISHMENT OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS RATHER THAN MERE MAKESHIFT MEASURES WHICH ACCOMPLISH NOTHING IN THE WAY OF RESOCIALIZING THE OFFENDER. HOWEVER, THE PUNISHMENT NEED NOT CONSIST OF A FINE OR IMPRISONMENT. APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENTS FOR JUVENILES CAN BE IMPOSED BY JUVENILE COURT JUDGES, IN CONSULTATION WITH CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORISTS, IF NECESSARY. --IN DUTCH