Development of antisocial
behaviour
Description of antisocial behavior
Prosocial = ~altruism, you do some extra, you try to help
Social = sitting next to people and talking to them
Asocial = not seeking social context
Anti-social = doing something against social norms
Antisocial behavior = crime ?
-> be called a jackass is not crime but its not nice behaviour.
Crime = violence, (sexual) abuse, vandalism, ..
(Juvenile/jeugdig) antisocial behavior: imprecise term for a broad spectrum of law and norm violating
behavior (committed by minors)
➢Behavior against criminal code committed by minor
➢Behavior against social values/norms
Legal perspective
Belgium: <12 not responsible, <18 a minor
Generally, difference youth and adult justice system
• More protective mechanisms, shorter maximum duration of measures ...
But: juveniles can be tried as adults under certain conditions and for certain offenses
(“uithandengeving” litt. meaning “giving you out of hands” or “handing over”)
→Very exceptional measure
• When a juvenile has already had a previous sentence OR if they’ve committed a
severe offense (e.g., sexual offense, rape, death, terrorism)
• Starting from 03/2023: previous sentence AND severe offense
• After medical-psychological examination
• Minimum age of 16
Two situations in which a public prosecutor and/or judge are involved:
1. ‘Alarming Upbringing Situation’ (Dutch: Verontrustende Opvoed Situatie; VOS)
1
, a. “A situation in which the physical integrity, emotional, moral, intellectual and social
development opportunities of minors is compromised by special events, by relational
conflicts, or the circumstances in which they live”
b. Worrisome home situations
c. E.g.,; domestic violence, youth prostitution, psychiatric issues with the parents,
young parenting ...
d. “Recommended” vs “mandated” care
i. Recommeded: vrijwillig
ii. Mandated: verplicht
2. ‘Juvenile offense’ (previously called ‘As crime described fact’) (Dutch: jeugddelict, previously
called ‘als Misdrijf Omschreven Feit; MOF)
a. A fact: law-breaking
b. No punishment but measures (maatregelen)
c. Maximum investment in rehabilitation and prevention of going in detention (e.g.
family involvement, training course, community service, mediation with victims ...)
d. If crime was too severe: possibility of being locked-up in juvenile detention
e. If crime was even more severe: ‘uithandengeving’ (‘handing over’) →tried and
locked-up as an adult (see three slides ago)
3 possible explanations:
‘Security hypothesis’
• Growing amount of security (systems)
• House and car alarms, security cameras, gates ...
• Especially impact on ‘debut crimes’ (Farrell e.a., 2011)
• Less chance on developing criminal career
Societal change (Van der Laan e.a., 2018)
2
behaviour
Description of antisocial behavior
Prosocial = ~altruism, you do some extra, you try to help
Social = sitting next to people and talking to them
Asocial = not seeking social context
Anti-social = doing something against social norms
Antisocial behavior = crime ?
-> be called a jackass is not crime but its not nice behaviour.
Crime = violence, (sexual) abuse, vandalism, ..
(Juvenile/jeugdig) antisocial behavior: imprecise term for a broad spectrum of law and norm violating
behavior (committed by minors)
➢Behavior against criminal code committed by minor
➢Behavior against social values/norms
Legal perspective
Belgium: <12 not responsible, <18 a minor
Generally, difference youth and adult justice system
• More protective mechanisms, shorter maximum duration of measures ...
But: juveniles can be tried as adults under certain conditions and for certain offenses
(“uithandengeving” litt. meaning “giving you out of hands” or “handing over”)
→Very exceptional measure
• When a juvenile has already had a previous sentence OR if they’ve committed a
severe offense (e.g., sexual offense, rape, death, terrorism)
• Starting from 03/2023: previous sentence AND severe offense
• After medical-psychological examination
• Minimum age of 16
Two situations in which a public prosecutor and/or judge are involved:
1. ‘Alarming Upbringing Situation’ (Dutch: Verontrustende Opvoed Situatie; VOS)
1
, a. “A situation in which the physical integrity, emotional, moral, intellectual and social
development opportunities of minors is compromised by special events, by relational
conflicts, or the circumstances in which they live”
b. Worrisome home situations
c. E.g.,; domestic violence, youth prostitution, psychiatric issues with the parents,
young parenting ...
d. “Recommended” vs “mandated” care
i. Recommeded: vrijwillig
ii. Mandated: verplicht
2. ‘Juvenile offense’ (previously called ‘As crime described fact’) (Dutch: jeugddelict, previously
called ‘als Misdrijf Omschreven Feit; MOF)
a. A fact: law-breaking
b. No punishment but measures (maatregelen)
c. Maximum investment in rehabilitation and prevention of going in detention (e.g.
family involvement, training course, community service, mediation with victims ...)
d. If crime was too severe: possibility of being locked-up in juvenile detention
e. If crime was even more severe: ‘uithandengeving’ (‘handing over’) →tried and
locked-up as an adult (see three slides ago)
3 possible explanations:
‘Security hypothesis’
• Growing amount of security (systems)
• House and car alarms, security cameras, gates ...
• Especially impact on ‘debut crimes’ (Farrell e.a., 2011)
• Less chance on developing criminal career
Societal change (Van der Laan e.a., 2018)
2
