Restorative Dimensions in Belgian Youth Justice

Abstract

The revised Belgian Youth Justice Act (YJA) (2006) is featured as a case study due to the important restorative justice dimensions that it has introduced. The legal system in Belgium is dominated by a civil law regime with a deep-seated tradition in youth justice characterized by an almost exclusively 'treatment'-oriented approach. Whilst the implementation of the revised YJA has encountered some challenges, it has also revealed that it is possible to prioritize restorative processes within a conventional civil law regime. That being said, the fundamental change that the Act aspired to achieve is only made possible by the application of additional measures.

Who decides? The decision-making process of juvenile judges concerning minors with mental disorders

“…These figures are far higher than the 6-16% reported in the general population for the same age group (Costello, Mustillo, Erkanli, Keeler, & Angold, 2003). The high prevalence rates for mental disorders indicate that these minors may have mental health needs that should be addressed by the juvenile judge, since the juvenile justice system, especially in Belgium, is focused on rehabilitation (Muncie & Goldson, 2006;Put, Vanfraechem, & Walgrave, 2012). For many of these minors, the juvenile court may offer the first opportunity for their mental health needs to be identified and addressed (Grisso, 2007;Lederman & Osofsky, 2008).…”

La Reparación Del Daño en La Justicia Penal

“…El objetivo principal de la JR es la reparación de los daños causados por el hecho delictivo, a través de un encuentro de diálogo entre las partes, y no la rehabilitación del agresor o la prevención de la reincidencia, sino que estos dos últimos serán posibles efectos que surjan desde dicho objetivo, pero no se apunta directamente a que se cumplan (Put, Vanfraechem, & Walgrave, 2012). Es por lo anterior que se abren varias interrogantes cuando de medir la efectividad se trata, ya que ésta depende fundamentalmente de lo que se entienda por efi cacia, esto puede ser en términos de reducción de reincidencia o del sentimiento de satisfacción de los participantes posterior a su ejecución.…”

Pathways of Transferred Youth Offenders into Adulthood

“…Within this protection (or welfare) model, young offenders are not considered to be responsible for their offences (Christiaens and Nuytiens, 2009). Since 2006, restorative justice responses to youth offending have been prioritised in the new Youth Protection Act (YPA) (Put et al, 2012). Young offenders appear in the Youth Court, where protective and restorative youth measures (and not punishments) are imposed ‘in the best interest of the child’.…”