Crime Prevention, Support or Punishment? Introducing an Ambiguous System of Youth Justice in Denmark

Abstract

International research on youth justice systems has highlighted diversion as a key element in early crime prevention and deterrence. In Denmark, a youth justice reform was introduced in 2019 that restructured how the justice system responds to children and youths who are suspected or convicted of a crime. With the introduction of a Youth Crime Board (YCB) and a Youth Probation Service (YPS), the new reform aims to increase the speed and intensity of system responses to offences committed by children and youths. Based on legislation, policy papers, hearings on the new reform and the first evaluations of the reform, we analyse three key elements: the YCB, the sanctions and the YPS. We find that the 2019 youth justice reform constitutes an ambiguous system of youth justice with elements of diversion and punishment, and we argue that the reform integrates punitive elements into the delivery of treatment and support.