Understanding the decline in youth protection measures and youth probation figures
Since 2019, there has been a decline in the number of youth protection measures and youth probation procedures in the Netherlands. What explanations can be given? And what are the implications for future policy aimed at helping vulnerable children facing compulsory civil or criminal intervention by government authorities?
Commissioned by the Dutch Research and Data Centre (WODC), Leiden University researchers have studied the nationwide decline in the number of youth protection measures and youth probation procedures. This interdisciplinary project involved researchers from the departments of Child Law and Health Law, Business Studies and Education and Child Studies. The research outcomes were published this week and sent to the Dutch House of Representatives on Thursday 28 November 2024.
Drop in number of youth protection measures, but rise in duration
According to the interim report, between 2021 and the beginning of 2024, the number of youth protection procedures dropped by 16.9%. While the number of youth protection measures declined, the research shows that the average duration of these procedures has actually increased since mid-2020. In the case of youth probation procedures, a smaller decrease (namely -3.7%) can be seen over the entire 2021-2024 period, although most recently (early 2023 to early 2024) there has actually been an increase in the number of procedures. Unlike youth protection procedures, the duration of youth probation procedures has actually decreased since the beginning of 2021.
Experience in practice
To find out what factors might explain this decline, professionals from the youth protection and youth probation services were asked whether they recognise the changes in volume, what factors they see as possible causes for the decline and what future developments they expect. Particularly with regard to the decline in the number of youth protection measures, the results of the exploratory study provide a basis for further research. Professionals from the youth protection service generally acknowledge the decline in the number of youth protection measures being applied. They suggest several factors they believe could explain this decrease. These include factors related to problems with implementation and in the professional chain, a greater use of voluntary measures, developments in society and a more critical attitude towards youth protection measures. Many of these factors appear to be closely related and require further analysis.
Further questions for follow-up study
The in-depth part of the study examines these initial explanations for the decline in the number of youth protection measures in more detail. For example, does a fundamental stance on government intervention underlie the critical attitude towards the use of youth protection measures? Or is this attitude the result of practical implementation problems in the youth protection chain? And is the increased use of help in the voluntary framework the result of increased expertise or is this development possibly born of necessity because of problems further down the youth protection chain? And to what extent do parents and young people actually experience this help as voluntary? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in the follow-up study.
Follow-up
The interim report published by Leiden University entitled ‘Verklarende factoren voor het volume van jeugdbeschermingsmaatregelen en jeugdreclasseringstrajecten’ (Explanatory factors for the volume of youth protection measures and youth probation procedures) was sent to the Dutch House of Representatives on 28 November 2024. The follow-up study will run until autumn 2025.