The aim of the present study is dual. First, the distribution of the population is examined regarding to the nature of reports received by the social services. The reports concern areas such as the household's socio-economic status, family relationship (constellation), the gender of the youth and the youth previous contact with the social services. Second, the hypothesis that social services' actions and granting of interventions increases the probability of the population reoffending is tested. A sample of 116 adolescents who been reported through the Law (1964: 167) with special provisions on young offenders was selected from the social services in a medium-sized city in Sweden. The results show that the population's 116 adolescents can be divided into groups regarding to the nature of reports and that the reports had information concerning several criminal risk factors that were preceded by the adolescents first report according to law with special provisions on young offenders. Furthermore, the results show that a high number of reports and social services' placement of adolescents increases the probability of reoffending. The results also show that reports with information of drug abuse and drug offenses increases the probability of reoffending, the same applies if the adolescents have received youth service as a sanction. The results are discussed in the context of the social services responsibility and competence to assess and treat juvenile delinquents and their families.
2022-01-31