Citation

Bravo A, Sierra MJ, del Valle JF. Psicothema 2009; 21(4): 615-621.

Vernacular Title

Evaluacion de resultados de la ley de responsabilidad penal de menores.

Affiliation

Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain. amaiabravo@uniovi.es

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Departamento de Psicología de la Universidad de Oviedo, Publisher Colegio Oficial de Psicológicas de Asturias)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

19861108

Abstract

The present study aims to assess the impact of the Spanish young offenders law (LO/2000). Recidivism and its associated risk factors were used as indicators of impact. Data were collected from young offenders' reports opened after 2001 and closed before 2005. The final sample consisted of 382 young offenders (327 males and 55 females). Results indicated that 70% had not re-offended in an average period of 1.6 years. Most of the youngsters with fewer risk factors, usually start their criminal careers with less serious offences and the interventions seemed to be fairly effective. In the cases of young offenders with a higher number of risk factors, the interventions (custodial and non-custodial) were less effective, as recidivism rates were higher. Interventions must focus on family and community contexts in order to achieve adequate social integration of young delinquents.

Language: es