In this ChildHub publication, you can learn 60 basic facts about the state of juvenile justice in the European region, including key background information, definitions, developments, statistics as well as other interesting facts. 

Some of the facts included in the paper are:

  1. The development of separate treatment for juvenile offenders emerged in Europe from the beginning of the 20th century.
  2. "Best Interest"  is a standard used to decide what actions or arrangements would most benefit a child, and one on which juvenile court judges may base a disposition, or sentence.

  3. Expungement is a law that allow juvenile records to be erased and destroyed once the offending youth reaches a certain age so that a juvenile record does not impede individuals from becoming productive members of society.

  4. In the 18 EU Member States over 0.5 million children had formal contact with the police or criminal justice system in 2010.

  5. The vast majority of youth offending in Europe is dealt with out of court by means of informal diversionary measures: for example, in Belgium about 80%, Germany about 70%.

  6. In the EU all proceedings relating to children are to be prioritized and completed in the shortest time possible, in recognition of the fact that delay can have a particularly adverse effect on them.

  7. In 24 EU member states there are provisions on the right of a child to receive assistance when attending proceedings, incl. from a social worker/ a special representative.

  8. In Bulgaria and Romania, children aged 14 and above have the right to bring cases before a court in all areas of law, with parental/guardian consent.

  9. In Germany, the minimum age of procedural capacity is 14 in family and placement in care cases, 15 in employment cases and 16 in migration and asylum cases.

  10. In Romania, child suspects only have the right to be heard by the judge on one occasion, a limitation which does not exist in the case of adults.

Download the full article to read 50 more facts. 

 

Sources:

Research and Selection of the Most Effective Juvenile Restorative Justice Practices in Europe: Snapshots from 28 EU Member States

Children’s involvement in criminal, civil and administrative judicial proceedings in the 28 Member States of the EU

National Report on Juvenile Criminal Law in Slovenia

 

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