High-risk Offendersunder the Age of 18

The judicial perspective byLiv Synnøve Taraldsrud, judge

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The Norwegian legal system

The age of criminal responsibility is 15 years There are no special courts for young

offenders The criminal cases concerning young

offenders are also taken care of by the children social welfare-system

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The dilemmas

Prison is not at good alternative for young offenders according to UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

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Young Offenders in Prison?

Detention in custody Imprisonment after a verdict

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Detention in custody

Often no good alternatives are given to the judge

How long shall the detention last? How do the detention influence the child? Other problems?

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Normal Criminal Cases

Why do a judge have to sentence children to prison?

Imprionment seldom makes the child less criminal

Imprisonment is often harder for a child than for an adult

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Normal Criminal Cases continue

The community’s right to be secure The community demand a reaction to serious

crime The interest of the victims

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Conclusion?

May be the interest of the childe is more important than the interest of the community?

It is important to find a sentence that is good for the child and maybe will make a diccerence to the child’s criminal activities