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The Recommendation Policy identifies recommendations for improving the synergy of the program within the 2014-2020 framework. In its first section we will compare economic data and statistics on youth unemployment in Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Portugal. Then, we will take into account those needs expressed by a changing labour market, with reference to abilities and skills that young workers should acquire in order to get access to it. Finally, we will mention some authoritative statements made by international organizations about the recognition of soft skills, and the positive impact generated by mobility projects on youth employability.

By Francesco Mancini and Andrea Ó Súilleabháin (eds) Urbanization has become a central issue in global security, development, and governance. While rapid urbanization can offer higher standards of living and opportunities for millions of people, it can also come at a cost: cities that are unable to respond to the needs of their growing populations face rising violence, crime, and poverty

We know how to fight this fight says UNODC head at Vienna human trafficking event� Speaking at a special event marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said that human traffickers and migrant smugglers were profiting from misery. Mr. Fedotov said: "Armed conflicts and humanitarian crises expose those caught in the crossfire to increased risk of being trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labour, organ removal, servitude and other forms of slavery." [Read more]�

n preparation of the General Assembly-hosted High-Level Meeting on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, to be held on 19 September, UNODC and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights jointly organized a Global Migration Group discussion in recent days on protecting the human rights of all people in vulnerable situations within large movements.

Drug deaths are at the highest levels since records began, data has suggested. The number of people dying from drugs misuse has soared to 2,250 per year in 2014, almost triple the levels found when records began in 1993. [...] Of the deaths, the overwhelming majority died from accidental poisoning with the substances, followed by intentional poisoning and mental or behavioural disorders caused by using drugs. Men are considerably more likely than women to die in this way, accounting for 72 per cent of all drug-related deaths, while women make up just 28 per cent. 2016-08-02 independent.co.uk

17-26 February, 2017 (10 Days) 3 Month CAS - Research Program: 17 February - 16 May, 2017 (90 Days) Baar, Switzerland

Nominations for the Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards have been extended to 19 August 2016. The awards recognise and reward programs which prevent or reduce crime in Australia. Nominations are open to projects of all sizes, including smaller initiatives involving local community groups. Any government agency, not-for-profit organisation or individual person making a significant contribution to a project in Australia can be nominated for an award. You may nominate a project you are involved in, or a project that you believe deserves recognition. Recipients are eligible to receive a cash prize to further support their crime and violence prevention projects. For smaller, community based projects, a cash prize of up to $15,000 can significantly improve the livelihood of those exposed to crime and violence.

July 28, 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This report from the National Center for Health Statistics at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents selected findings on the provision of health care services in U.S. state prisons based on a survey of state departments of corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The report includes findings on admissions testing for infectious disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and mental health conditions, as well as the location of the provision of care and utilization of telemedicine. The information serves as a first step toward filling existing gaps in research on the structure and provision of health care in the U.S. prison system

“If you try to run, they shoot you, if you stop working they beat you. It was just like the slave trade.” GENEVA, 14 June 2016 – More than nine out of 10 refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe this year through Italy are unaccompanied, prompting UNICEF to warn of the growing threats of abuse, exploitation and death facing them. In a report, Danger Every Step of the Way, released today, UNICEF says that 7,009 unaccompanied children made the crossing from North Africa to Italy in the first five months of the year, twice as many as last year. The report documents the appalling risks adolescents take in their flight to escape conflict, despair and poverty. A total of 2,809 deaths were recorded in the Mediterranean between January 1 and June 5, 2016, as compared with 3,770 for the whole of last year. The vast majority were on the Central Mediterranean route – and many were children. Unaccompanied children generally rely on human smugglers, often under a system of ‘pay as you go’, which opens them to exploitation. “If you try to run they shoot you and you die. If you stop working, they beat you. It was just like the slave trade,” Aimamo, 16, said of the farm in Libya where he and his twin brother worked for two months to pay the smugglers. “Once I was just resting for five minutes, and a man beat me with a cane. After working, they lock you inside.” Some are sexually abused and exploited. Italian social workers told UNICEF that both girls and boys were sexually assaulted and forced into prostitution while in Libya, and that some of the girls were pregnant when they arrived in Italy, having been raped. However because of the illicit nature of human smuggling operations, there are no reliable figures to show how many of the refugees and migrants die, disappear into forced labour or prostitution, or linger in detention. “It is a silent and desperate situation- out of sight and out of mind. Yet tens of thousands of children face danger every day and hundreds of thousands more are prepared to risk everything,” said Marie Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant crisis in Europe. “We urgently need to protect these children from all types of abuse and exploitation by those taking advantage of the situation to exploit their dreams”. With summer upon the Mediterranean, the latest numbers of children on the Central Mediterranean route may well be just the tip of the iceberg, according to UNICEF. Another 235,000 migrants are currently in Libya, tens of thousands of them unaccompanied children. “Every country – those the children leave, those they cross and those in which they seek asylum—has an obligation to establish protection systems focussed on the risks that unaccompanied children face. In the European Union and other destination countries, there is an opportunity for policy and legislative reforms to lead to more opportunities for safe, legal and regular channels for these children.” Poirier said.

The CoCoRa project develops a collaborative approach for the prevention of violent extremism among young people. In the last months, partner organisations have organized various meetings with local contact persons: members of local community organisations, representatives of mosques, and youth organisations working in the field of prevention. Discussions and exchange of views were the methodical basis for all meetings, aiming to construct the basis for a participatory approach to the prevention of violent extremism. Also, young people were involved in some of the meetings to hear about their ideas and expectations.

Register for Webinar: Developing Sustainability, Success Stories from the Field Hosted by The Council of State Governments Justice Center, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance Date: Tuesday, August 30 Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET Grant funding often provides seed money to help agencies launch new programs or expand existing ones. However, once the grant has expended, finding additional funds to sustain a program can be challenging. This webinar will discuss how other funding streams can be leveraged, and partnerships developed, to help sustain a program. In this webinar, Sheriff Christopher Donelan and Ed Hayes, assistant superintendent of treatment and programs for Franklin County, MA—a Second Chance Act grantee—will provide insights on how engaging the business community led to the county program’s sustainability. Additionally, Suzanne Watson, community services director for Pottawattamie County, IA—a Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program grantee—will discuss how her county’s mental health court is sustained with help from county investments. Staff from The Council of State Governments Justice Center will also discuss their forthcoming publication, Reducing the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jail: Six Questions County Leaders Need to Ask.

The frenetic, isolating nature of city life can be a day-to-day struggle for millions of people. An environmental cocktail of densely packed streets and homes, cramped and lengthy commutes and noise pollution as well as significant pockets of poverty and deprivation can take their toll. As a result, mental ill health and urban life are inextricably linked. With urban areas expected to house two-thirds of the world’s population by 2050 and some cities, such as in China, undergoing unprecedented expansion, the relationship between urban environments and mental health [...] 2016-08-17 theguardian.com

Boys exposed prenatally to a common chemical used in plastics may be more likely to develop symptoms of anxiety and depression at age 10-12. The new study by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) within the Mailman School of Public Health examined early life exposure to the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA). [...] BPA is a component of some plastics and is found in food containers, plastic water bottles, dental sealants, and thermal receipt paper. In the body, BPA is a synthetic estrogen, one of the class of chemicals known as "endocrine disruptors." 2016-08-17 sciencedaily.com

Recent stories in the media are raising important questions about whether risk and needs assessments are biased against people of color or women. As with all such tools, accuracy depends greatly on design and proper implementation. If your agency is using a risk and needs assessment, you should know the tool is performing and develop a plan to remediate any issues (e.g., scoring inconsistencies or low predictive accuracy) you may discover. 1. Validate your assessment tool. 2. Assess quality of implementation of the risk and needs assessment tool. 3.Develop a plan to address any bias with the risk and needs assessment tool itself (e.g., current weighting of items is causing unintended bias) or how it is being implemented and used (e.g., it is not being scored correctly).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, is accepting applications for Detecting and Preventing Suicide Behavior, Ideation, and Self-Harm in Youth in Contact with the Juvenile Justice System. This initiative supports research to test the effectiveness of combined strategies to both detect and intervene to reduce the risk of suicide behavior, suicide ideation, and non-suicidal self-harm. This announcement invites intervention strategies that are designed to be delivered in typical service settings using typically available personnel and resources, to enhance the implementation of interventions that prove effective, enhance their future uptake in diverse settings, and thereby reduce risk of suicide and self-harm in this population. Applications are due September 5.

JustLeadershipUSA is now accepting applications for its advanced leadership development training Leading with Conviction. The 12-month program is specifically tailored for mid-senior-level leaders who have a proven track record in advocacy, activism, and community organizing, and have been incarcerated or under supervision in the criminal or juvenile justice systems. The training takes place both in person and remotely through forums, webinars, executive coaching, peer coaching, and regular digital communication. Applications are due September 16, 2016

Why to take this course? There is a pattern (recipe) that all champions in european funding follow for developing great proposals and exploiting successfully european funds. This pattern or recipe distinguishes successful/winning proposals and failed ones when they request EU funding. All participants (experienced or novices) will become familiar with this pattern/recipe along with tools, tips, templates and methods.  Sessions: 06 - 07 September 2016 Location: Science 14 Atrium Rue de La Science 14b, Brussels (Belgium)  Course fee: EUR 590 – EARLY BIRD fee (valid only for registrations before 23 August 2016) EUR 690 – Regular participation fee

From: Home Office, Department for Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Justice First published: 26 July 2016 The government’s plan for dealing with hate crime in England and Wales. Document: Action against Hate: the UK government’s plan for tackling hate crime Ref: ISBN 978-1-78655-163-4 PDF, 246KB, 40 pages Detail: This document sets out the government’s plan of actions to deal with hate crime until May 2020. It applies to England and Wales only. It outlines actions the government will take to: •prevent and respond to hate crime •increase reporting of hate crime incidents •improve support for victims •build an understanding of hate crime As part of the hate crime action plan, a £2.4 million funding scheme for places of worship has been launched. This will provide security measures and equipment for vulnerable places of worship that need increased protection.

Rodney E. Hero, University of California, Berkeley. Search for more papers by this author Morris E. Levy, University of Southern California. Direct correspondence to Morris E. Levy, Trousdale Pkwy, Von Kleinsmid Center, Rm. 312; Los Angeles, CA 90089; 〈morrisl@usc.edu〉.Search for more papers by this author Social Science Quarterly. First published: 11 August 2016 Full publication history Abstract The “great divergence” of America's rich from its middle class and poor has led some observers to see a country increasingly stratified by income and wealth, more so than by race. In this article, the first in a two-part series, we argue that this conclusion overlooks the persistent importance of the racial “structure” of inequality. A decomposition of income inequality between 1980 and 2010 using the Theil Index shows that inequality between racial groups accounts for a rising share of total income inequality over this period nationally and in most states. We also demonstrate that within-state trends in the between-race component of inequality are not fully accounted for by trends in income inequality and racial diversity per se. These findings lay the groundwork for a forthcoming companion piece in Social Science Quarterly that shows that between-race inequality is strongly linked to welfare policy outcomes in the United States.

David Green, Nagoya University Graduate School of Law, Furocho, Chikusaku, Nagoya, Aichi 464–8601, Japan 〈david.green@law.nagoya-u.ac.jp) Search for more papers by this author Social Science Quarterly, first published: 31 May 2016 Full publication history Abstract Objectives: To test the “Trump Hypothesis”: whether immigrants are responsible for higher levels of violent and drug-related crime in the United States, as asserted by Donald Trump in his 2015 presidential campaign announcement. This is achieved using recent crime and immigration data, thus testing the common public perception linking immigrants to crime, and providing an updated assessment of the immigrant-crime nexus. Methods: Rates of violent crime and drug arrests by state are pooled for 2012–2014. These are compared against pooled statistics on foreign-born and Mexican nationals living in the United States, as well as estimates of undocumented foreign and undocumented Mexican population by state. The data are analyzed using correlation and multivariate regressions. Results: Data uniformly show no association between immigrant population size and increased violent crime. However, there appears to be a small but significant association between undocumented immigrant populations and drug-related arrests. Conclusions: Results largely contradict the Trump Hypothesis: no evidence links Mexican or undocumented Mexican immigrants specifically to violent or drug-related crime. Undocumented immigrant associations with drug-related crime are minimal, though significant. The Trump Hypothesis consequently appears to be biased toward rhetoric rather than evidence.

From:Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service First published:28 July 2016Part of:Prisons and probation statistics. A summary of what happened to the prison population between 1993 and 2016 and the major factors contributing to the changes.

Deviant Behavior Volume 37, Issue 5, 2016, Pp. 525-536 Michael S. Melendez, Bronwen Lichtenstein & Matthew J. Dolliver ABSTRACT The families of Dylan Klebold, Eric Harris, and Adam Lanza have been blamed for raising sons who became school killers. The mothers, in particular, have been portrayed as failed parents because of their sons’ actions. We applied Goffman’s concept of courtesy (associated) stigma to analyze readers’ responses on CBS and The Huffington News weblogs and to determine if the fathers, mothers, or both parents were singled out for blame. Content analysis indicated that the mothers were always blamed for their sons’ actions; no one blamed the fathers. We concluded that courtesy stigma and gender rules are closely related in framing these responses.

in Muenster/Germany, 20-24 September 2016. General Theme: Crime and Crime Control – Structures, Developments, and Actors

First-of-its-kind national survey paints surprising picture of victims’ views on criminal justice priorities

Details can be found at the Website of the ICPA

An earlier version of Corrections Key Statistics presented incorrect data for the total correctional population in 2007 and the rate of correctional supervision from 1980 to 2014. Tables and figures have been updated accordingly. Corrections Key Statistics provide easy access to trend data from BJS's core data collections on U.S. correctional populations. Findings include data on offenders held in state prisons, federal prisons, and local jails, and those supervised in the community through probation or parole agencies. Trend data on executions are also included.

Official Statistics Story of the prison population 1993 to 2016 From:Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service First published:28 July 2016Part of:Prisons and probation statistics ... A summary of what happened to the prison population between 1993 and 2016 and the major factors contributing to the changes.

From:Ministry of JusticeFirst published:22 August 2016 ... Extremists to be held in 'specialist units', a crackdown on extremist literature and tightened vetting of prison chaplains.

Save the Date: IFJR is pleased to invite you to its first International Conference on the following topic: Restorative justice in action(s) French practices and innovations. An international comparative perspective The conference will be held on January 18th and 19th, 2017 at UNESCO in Paris. Restorative justice was added to the French Code de procédure pénale (criminal procedure code) by the law of August 15th, 2014. It is now possible for any person who is the victim or the offender to be proposed a restorative justice measure at all stages of a criminal proceeding. During the past three years, the French Institute for Restorative Justice (IFJR) assisted the implementation and evaluation of experimental programs realised by professionals in the fields of justice, probation and penitentiary services, juvenile justice and victims support services, in France. Given the success of these programs, confirmed by results evaluated internationally, – primarily the appeasement of participants, a better recognition for victims and accountably of the offenders, a decrease in the recidivism rate, a newfound feeling of security for the various communities concerned – this practice is currently spreading throughout the country. The goal of this conference is to collect and learn from all these programs, to present the most effective practices and to discover a French approach to restorative justice, thanks also to the shared experience of international professionals. This first conference held in France is organized by the IFJR in partnership with INAVEM (the French federation of victims support services – www.inavem.org) and the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ - www.euforumrj.org), with funding provided by the Ministry of Justice (SG/SADJAV). It is designed for all professionals involved in deploying restorative justice in France and who wish to share best practices and lessons learned with all persons who are likely to implement such programs in the future and who need to learn about the subject, as well as for all international professionals who wish to discover how France has developed this practice over the course of the past two years. French Institute for Restorative Justice (Institut Français pour la Justice Restaurative - IFJR)