Evaluation of detention measures in youth welfare

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View into an unoccupied room in the former closed accommodation 'Feuerbergstrasse' for young people in Hamburg (2006)

Evaluation of custodial measures in youth welfare would like to assess the extent to which the accommodation in a closed facility, which is only permitted if there is a danger to the body or life of the child or young person, or if the child or young person poses a threat to a third party and if a court decision is available (§42 SGB VIII), represents a possibility or opportunity for the young people.

Case study

Under the direction of Christian Schrapper, a working group at the University of Koblenz has been evaluating a socio-educational crisis intervention center (KRIZ for short) in North Rhine-Westphalia, which also has a closed group, since summer 2004.

assignment

The LAKRIZ long-term evaluation study does not investigate whether, but how, crisis intervention can provide appropriate and beneficial help for the young people affected, not only instantly, but also in the longer term. In addition, references to the effectiveness of pedagogical action within such contexts are expected.

method

Methodologically, the study is primarily about the reconstruction of life stories, which should be made possible with the help of qualitative methods. First of all, all children and young people who are accommodated in the KRIZ during the project period are recorded quantitatively. From the material documented in this way, individual cases are selected, which are processed intensively as part of a qualitative approach. A first guided interview takes place as soon as possible after the admission. The main aim of these first conversations is to find out how those affected experience the accommodation in a group that is at least temporarily closed. After six to twelve months there is a second interview to find out whether or what has changed in perception and evaluation during the time of the placement. In addition, the adolescents admitted to the KRIZ should be asked annually about their assessment and experience for up to six years after this custodial measure. In addition, problem-centered interviews are conducted with the youth welfare office staff responsible for the young people, with the educators at KRIZ and the parents in order to learn something about possible different points of view of the young people involved. In order to be able to investigate a connection between educational interventions and possible effects at all, the evaluation study is designed as a longitudinal study .

Results

The first result of the study can be summarized as follows: “Despite the radical experience of unity among all young people, some young people were able to see the KRIZ as protection for themselves. Here, the educators play an important role ”( Schneider, 2006, p. 38 ). The first findings and results suggest that the KRIZ has an impact on young people. How exactly this will take shape and what value the adolescents attach to it cannot yet be precisely stated at the current status of the study.

Effects of measures depriving of liberty in youth welfare

An empirical study by the German Youth Institute from 2003 to 2007 in Munich shows that 85 percent of young people are of the opinion that their time in an institution that deprives them of their liberty has "brought them a lot". 83 percent of them speak of an increase in learning in dealing with people, their parents and the way they behave. The supervisors' assessment is a little more cautious than the young people, but the supervisors also consider it the right measure. It can be seen that certain boundaries, together with a constant offer of a relationship with a specialist, enable young people to gain subjective and social benefits. What is important here is the willingness of the young people to get involved in this process and the measure. If the willingness exists, the compulsion behind the measure takes a back seat. The study also shows that for these adolescents success was only evident from the measures that deprive them of their liberty, although they have to accept a major sacrifice in return. Their freedom is restricted and they have to be prepared for certain controls. These measures offer a chance if the young people know that they are valued and understood, they can achieve something through their own achievements, and they regain their self-confidence.

Discussion about detention measures

Detention measures are very controversial as they also include questionable methods such as isolation or curfew. Hence, there are controversial views on these measures. On the one hand, there is the opinion that the educational effect it should have through youth welfare does not agree with the compulsion of the measure. Due to the deprivation of liberty, the young people become victims of this measure. On the other hand, there is also the perception that young people are perpetrators who need to be shown boundaries in order to change their behavior. There are no precise rules for the use of measures depriving their liberty. In the Child and Youth Welfare Act , the detention measure is only regulated in Section 42 (5) and (6) when the person is taken into care .

literature

  • Hoops, Sabrina and Permien, Hanna: Mild measures are not possible? - Measures depriving of liberty in youth welfare and youth psychiatry. Munich 2006
  • Schneider, Vanessa: Experiences and evaluations of custodial measures from the perspective of young people . in: Evangelischer Erziehungsverband eV (EREV) (ed.), Evaluation of custodial measures in youth welfare, Hanover 2006.
  • Späth, Karl: Legal and professional standards for measures depriving and restricting liberty in youth welfare. Merseburg 2008

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