Effective (components of) interventions aimed at improving the relationship and/or interactions between youth and police: A systematic literature review

• In Event: POLWG Panel 11. Police and Young People: Relationships and perceptions of legitimacy

Abstract

Research shows that youth consistently carry less positive attitudes towards police than adults (Alder, 1992; Sindall et al., 2017; Taylor et al., 2001), especially youth with an ethnic minority background and/or a low socio-economic status (SES) (Broekhuizen et al., 2018; Brown & Benedict, 2002; Brunson, 2007; Hurst et al., 2023; Leiber et al., 1998; Wu et al., 2015). Furthermore, research shows a pattern of police officers expressing negative attitudes towards youth, particularly minority youth (Bolzan, 2003; Fix et al., 2023; Richards et al., 2019; White, 1992). When youth and criminal justice agencies distrust each other, there is a risk that youth, and especially minority youth, will be disadvantaged during the detection and sanctioning of criminal behaviour. These disadvantages then reinforce mutual distrust between youth and criminal justice agencies, among which the police. However, a clear overview of what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why when it comes to improving the relationship between youth and police is currently lacking. In the present study, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify what interventions exist aimed at improving the relationship and interactions between youth and police. Specifically, we investigated their effectivity and what specific components contribute to that effectivity. Full results will be shared during the session at the EUROCRIM conference.

Authors

• Ayala de Groot, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Katharina Krüsselmann, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Petra de Jong, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Arjen Leerkes, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Maastricht University

• Annemiek Harder, Erasmus University Rotterdam