YOUTH SQUADS (FROM POLICE AND YOUNG PEOPLE - CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS - BRUGGE, BELGIUM, MARCH 3 & 4, 1972 BY COLETTE SOMERHAUSEN - SEE NCJ-26883)

• NCJ Number: 26888
• Author(s): J DESMET
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: Studiecentrum Voor Jeugdmisdadigheid
• Publication Format: Document
• Country: Belgium

Annotation

DESCRIPTION OF THE POLICE YOUTH SQUADS IN ANTWERP, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO PREVENT OR CUT DOWN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS.

Abstract

THE YOUTH SQUADS TAKE CHARGE OF ALL CASES INVOLVING MINORS, EITHER AS VICTIMS OR OFFENDERS. THEY CARRY OUT PREVENTIVE ACTION AGAINST JUVENILE CRIME WHERE POSSIBLE. THEIR PREVENTIVE MARK CLOSELY RESEMBLES THAT OF THE VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING IN BELGIUM, AND THEY COOPERATE WITH THOSE SERVICES. HOWEVER, THE YOUTH SQUADS DIFFER IN THAT THEY ARE POLICE RATHER THAN CIVILIANS, AND THEREFORE HAVE AUTHORITY AND MUST BE OBEYED. THE STRUCTURE OF A TYPICAL YOUTH SQUAD IS DESCRIBED. CRITERIA USED BY THE YOUTH SQUADS IN EVALUATING THEIR WORK ARE DESCRIBED, AND SOME STATISTICS ARE GIVEN ON THE RESULTS OBTAINED. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE NUMBER OF PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE YOUTH SQUADS BE INCREASED AND THAT SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH JUVENILES COORDINATE THEIR WORK BETTER, TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT. -- IN DUTCH SEE NCJ-32518 FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION.