High-risk offenders under the age of 18 : IMMIGRANTS

2. High-risk offenders under the age of 18 : IMMIGRANTS • 1. Introduction • 2. Belgium : a protectional model • 3. The history of the last 20 years • 4. Immigrants • Adult time for adult crime : the tough part is for the immigrants ! • “Us” and “Them” : the roots of immigrant juvenile delinquency

4. 1. Introduction : more questions then answers • Juvenile delinquency and immigrants : two different subjects at the same time • Different profiles for different offenders • Interventions in the correctional sector versus integration policy • An exclusive focus on immigrants is impossible • What does the word immigrant mean? • Legal/illegal • Nationality/origin

5. 1. Introduction : more questions then answers • “The nature and the scale of the problem?” • Talking about prison or give prison statistics is not enough • Is the Belgium system a possible solution or an effective intervention?

7. 2. A protectional model • The basic idea behind the protectional law • Characteristics: • Protection means assistance • Measures • Open/closed institutions

8. 2. A protectional model • Open/closed institutions : • No overcrowding • The rule is the group • A pedagogic model or project • Basic approach of regime developing

9. 2. A protectional model • The ambiguity of the protectional model • Difference in between measure or sanction? • To protect somebody or to make him assume his responsibility? • A “bypass” in the protectional system : • A juvenile justice court can desist. • Belgium is a federal state : • Devolution in between the state and the Communities

11. 3. The history of the last 20 years • Extreme right • Focus on immigrants • Feelings of insecurity • A “security logic” entered in our minds • Focus on juvenile delinquency • Focus on young male immigrants • “cut Moroccans” • Un régime communautaire

12. 3. The history of the last 20 years • Feelings of insecurity become associated with juvenile delinquency • Quantity : more juvenile delinquency? • Quality : changes in juvenile delinquency? • Capacity : 400 versus 10.000

13. 3. The history of the last 20 years • Why this (media) attention? • Youth delinquency is striking, often very public and very visible • The lack of (closed) capacity • The birth of a federal “prison” • Why don’t we question the use of all these places?

14. 3. The history of the last 20 years • Three problematic categories : juveniles with a psychiatric problem, drug addicts and illegals • The ongoing strikes in the institutions of the Flemish Community : • Mental problems, psychiatry, sexual problems, low IQ, ADHD, problematic educational past, autists…

15. 3. The history of the last 20 years • Too dangerous to be cared for and too “psychiatric” to be dealt with • Is the system inadequate or did the juveniles become inadequate?

17. 3. The history of the last 20 years • The case of Joe van Holsbeeck : the MP3 murder in Brussels Central Station • Why this case? • The quote from the BBC news website • Football seems to be the best solution

19. 4. Immigrants • 4.1. To desist a juvenile : “Adult time for adult crime” : the tough part is for the immigrants! • What happens when a juvenile judge decides to desist? • The possibility to desist is the result of a compromise • The aims of the system

20. 4. Immigrants

21. 4. Immigrants

22. 4. Immigrants • 41,4 % is Moroccan • 16,7% Is Belgian • Third group are the (black) Africans • Eastern Europe and Turkish juveniles : each about 6%

23. 4. Immigrants • Main characteristics of this group : • ‘the file rouge” is violence • Problematic family situation, schooling is problematic, negative attitude, psychiatric problems • Effective? • A forgotten group in prison • Two new federal closed institutions

26. 4.2.: “Us” and “Them” : the roots of immigrant juvenile delinquency • The study of Marion Van San

27. 4.2.: “Us” and “Them” : the roots of immigrant juvenile delinquency : two follow-up studies • University of Ghent : • Immigrant delinquency has much more socio-economic reasons then cultural reasons • Recommendations : • just tough repression is not a solution • Authority should focus on : schooling, education, employment, leisure time, help and care processes

28. 4.2.: “Us” and “Them” : the roots of immigrant juvenile delinquency : two follow-up studies • University of Leuven : • “Us” and “Them” : Flemish “mietjes” and immigrant “machos” • “spheres of justice” : family, street, school and your own community

30. Questions ?