Since 1989, when for the first time probation was introduced in the Italian legislation for youth offenders, we have carried out empirical research comparing its application in Southern and Northern juvenile courts. In our most recent research, the first study carried out in Italy on judicial data on recidivism, we investigated the recidivism rate in a sample of juvenile offenders 7 years after probation. Results show that probation as well as restorative justice practices reduce the transition from juvenile delinquency to adult offending. Moreover probation, paradoxically, gives better results when young offenders were perpetrators of serious crimes. This seems to happen both because serious crimes are often the first and only crime committed by young offenders and because of the emphasis of probation process on personal responsibility rather than punishment. The European Union Council request to member States to introduce restorative justice practices, is in Italy actually fulfilled only in the juvenile criminal justice system by means of probation. The success of probation in reducing recidivism among youth offenders encourages an increased application of probation itself also within the adult criminal justice system.
The transition from juvenile delinquency to adult offending: a study on recidivism after probation
COLAMUSSI, Marilena
2009-01-01
Abstract
Since 1989, when for the first time probation was introduced in the Italian legislation for youth offenders, we have carried out empirical research comparing its application in Southern and Northern juvenile courts. In our most recent research, the first study carried out in Italy on judicial data on recidivism, we investigated the recidivism rate in a sample of juvenile offenders 7 years after probation. Results show that probation as well as restorative justice practices reduce the transition from juvenile delinquency to adult offending. Moreover probation, paradoxically, gives better results when young offenders were perpetrators of serious crimes. This seems to happen both because serious crimes are often the first and only crime committed by young offenders and because of the emphasis of probation process on personal responsibility rather than punishment. The European Union Council request to member States to introduce restorative justice practices, is in Italy actually fulfilled only in the juvenile criminal justice system by means of probation. The success of probation in reducing recidivism among youth offenders encourages an increased application of probation itself also within the adult criminal justice system.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
