James D. Unnever

First Published April 12, 2018     

Abstract

The research on the relationship between immigration and crime is central to the debate on immigration policies throughout Europe. This article reviews the research on whether immigrants in the Netherlands are more likely to engage in crime with a specific focus on whether Moroccans have a greater propensity to offend than the native Dutch. It is concluded that deficiencies in the research including the potential effects of bias against immigrant groups render the assessment of whether immigrants commit more crime than the native Dutch problematic.

Keywords ethnicity and crime, discrimination, the Netherlands

Scholars recognize that establishing rates of crime across immigrant groups in Europe including the Netherlands is problematic because government agencies including the criminal justice system do not collect data on ethnicity (Junger-Tas, 1997; Tonry & Bijleveld, 2007). In the absence of officially recording ethnicity, two methods have been used to estimate the rates of crime across different ethnic groups (Wittebrood, 2003). These two methods are (1) asking questions pertaining to the person’s ethnicity on surveys along with self-reports of crime and (2) using official databases that merge information about whether the parents or the suspects were born outside of the Netherlands. Weerman (2007) reported that researchers most often analyze the System of Social Statistical Data Sets (SSD) at Statistics Netherlands, which contains integral data about the population of the Netherlands in a system of linkable registers and various surveys that have been merged and made consistent. The SSD includes the Herkenningsdienstsysteem (HKS) Police Identification Service System, which has been in use since 1986 to register anyone suspected of a criminal offense in the Netherlands (Bovenkerk & Fokkema, 2016). However, note that the official data consider the third generation of immigrants as native Dutch because both they and their parents were born in the Netherlands. Consequently, the research reviewed below has only analyzed crime among the first or the second generation of immigrants. In short, there is the need for research regarding whether the third generation of immigrants has the same likelihood of committing crimes as the first and second generation.

Below, I review the prior research that analyzes whether different ethnic groups commit more crime than the native Dutch. The results of these studies are mixed. Surveys generally reveal that Turks and Moroccans self-report less crime than the native Dutch, whereas the research that analyzes official police data consistently finds that ethnic groups, including Turk and Moroccans, commit more crime than the native Dutch. I first review the results generated from self-reports of crime included in anonymous and confidential surveys and then review the research that has analyzed official police data.

Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

3 May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favour of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.

It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

Belize has become the most recent member to join the Internet Watch Foundation's (IWF) growing global Portals network by adopting a technical reporting solution for online child sexual abuse imagery. The Portal, supported by UNODC, will enable the public to report suspected illegal content anonymously.

"With the UN General Assembly special session consensus as our blueprint, we can promote efforts to stop organized crime while protecting human rights, enabling development and ensuring rights-based treatment and support," Secretary-General Ant�nio Guterres said in a video message at the opening session of the 61st Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

In light of the current security threats in West Africa, States see the urgency in strengthening the capacity of criminal justice systems. This is to address organized crime and violent extremism and to deliver fair and transparent justice, in accordance with the rule of law.

Submitted by Kira Weir at ISSUP on 19 April 2018

Published by

Drug Policy Network South East Europe

Publication Date

1 January 2018

Glossary of Terms Used in Drug Policy

A glossary of drug policy terminology produced by the Drug Policy Network South East Europe is now available in English and Spanish. 

The Drug Policy Network South East Europe (DPNSEE) is an initiative of NGOs from the countries of South East Europe. Currently, there are 22 full members of the Network joining from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYRO Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.

The publication covered common terminology and acronyms such as "DRD" (drug related death), offering an alphabetic list of terms and conditions. 

Free to download from the DPNSEE website , the guide will be useful for anyone working in the substance use field with an interest in policy or to assist in creating reports and funding applications. 

The Criminal Justice Platform Europe (CJPE) is organising the second edition of the International Criminal Justice Summer Course in Barcelona from the 3rd until the 6th of July 2018 in the Centre for Legal Studies and Specialised Training, C/ Ausiàs Marc 40, Barcelona. The aim of the Summer Course is to examine key practice issues, inspire new thinking, promote cross-fertilisation and build new networks to improve services and practice in prison, probation and restorative justice. This years theme will be radicalisation and violent extremism.

https://go.coe.int/fWu1p

Strasbourg, 04.04.2018 – The Council of Europe today issued policy guidelines to its 47 member states aimed at safeguarding the rights and interests of children of imprisoned parents.

Some 2.1 million children in Europe have one of their parents in prison, according to estimates based on the number of inmates in prisons. These children may experience trauma, stigma, anxiety, and loss of parental care and material status which may be detrimental to their well-being, personal development and sometimes life.

The Committee of Ministers – the executive body of the organisation - adopted a Recommendation recalling that children with imprisoned parents are entitled to the same rights as other children, including regular contact with their parents, except if it is considered contrary to the child´s best interests.

Maintaining child-parent relations  can positively impact not only the child, but also the imprisoned parent, prison staff and environment, and by better preparing prisoner for release and social reintegration, also protect society in general, the Committee of Ministers stresses.

Specific guidelines are provided to avoid the arrest of parents in the presence of children or, if this is unavoidable, that this is carried out in a child-sensitive way. In order to minimise the impact of a parent´s imprisonment on children, prison authorities should apply as much as possible measures such as home leave, open prisons, electronic monitoring, which can also to ease transition from prison to liberty.

Children should be normally allowed to visit their imprisoned parent within a week following the arrest, and then on a regular basis, without interfering with the child´s life, such as school attendance. Searches on children should be done in a child-sensitive manner and staff in contact with children should receive special training.

The facility where the parent is detained should be as close as possible to the children´s home and visits should take place in a child-friendly designated prison space or even in a facility close to the establishment. Children should also be able to regularly be in touch with parents via webcam, chat, telephone or other technologies.

The recommendation encourages member states to support imprisoned parents who wish to do so to participate effectively in the parenting of their children, including via communication with school, health and welfare services.

With regard to staff, prisons should select and appoint officers specialised in dealing with children and their imprisoned parents to provide guidance and information, in particular to children newly confronted with the prison environment.

Finally, the recommendation advises states to ensure that the competent ministries, children´s ombudspersons or other bodies monitor respect for the rights and interests of children with imprisoned parents.

Brussels, 4 May 2018

European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip, responsible for the Digital Single Market, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King and Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, in charge of Digital Economy and Society, have issued a statement on the first EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity – the Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS Directive) that Member States have to transpose into national law by 9 May 2018:

"The adoption of the NIS Directive two years ago was a turning point for the EU's efforts to step up its cybersecurity capacities. Thanks to this first EU cybersecurity law, Member States have strengthened their cooperation for a European cybersecurity policy and are coordinating efforts to build their response capacities. The Commission is working closely with Member States to assist with the Directive's transposition.

To further boost the Union's cybersecurity, the EU should swiftly give a strong and permanent mandate to its Agency for Cybersecurity, the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) and establish an EU framework for cybersecurity certification. Together with Member States we should also complete the joint work on the blueprint for cooperation in the event of large scale cross-border cybersecurity incidents and crises that mainstreams cybersecurity to existing crisis management mechanisms at EU level.

To help Member States rapidly transpose the NIS Directive and build their capabilities, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme is providing €38 million in funding until 2020 to support national CSIRTs as well as other NIS Directive stakeholders, such as the operators of essential services and digital service providers. Member States should use the opportunities given by this funding source to the fullest."

This program provides funding for states, territories, and units of local government to promote and expand services in detention and correctional facilities for people who are incarcerated and have children younger than age 18. This program will provide funding to implement positive family engagement strategies and activities that address the needs of these parents. Activities that can be funded under this program include developing strategies to increase and enhance communication between the child and his or her incarcerated parent while maintaining safe facilities as well as providing transitional reentry services that incorporate a focus on parental responsibility for incarcerated parents.

Watch the webinar about applying for this grant program.
Applications are due by May 22. 

New research on reducing crime in public housing, supported housing for prisoners returning to the community and crime prevention reinvestment models

Last week, the Australian Institute of Criminology released three new publications, which are all available now on the AIC website.

Research Reports

• Reducing crime in public housing areas through community development: An evaluation of the High Density Housing Program in the ACT
• Supported housing for prisoners returning to the community: A review of the literature

Trends & Issues Paper

• Prevent crime and save money: Return-on-investment models in Australia
   

For the latest crime and justice facts and figures, visit Crime Statistics Australia

Research Report - Evaluation of the Alternative Suspension Program

The Alternative Suspension Program was first introduced by the YMCAs of Québec in 1999 in response to a request form a local school in Montréal. The ultimate goal of the intervention is to reduce criminal activity by increasing youth attachment to school.

Research Summary - Evaluation of the Alternative Suspension Program

The Alternative Suspension Program was first introduced by the YMCAs of Québec in 1999 in response to a request form a local school in Montréal. The ultimate goal of the intervention is to reduce criminal activity by increasing youth attachment to school.

Research Summary - Child Pornography Offenders: A Review

The research summary is a review of the current state of knowledge on child pornography offenders, to determine implications for practice, and to highlight areas that are relevant for future research.

Research Summary - How to Best Predict Sexual Reoffending Among Sexual Offenders

The research summary is a study that examined how best to predict the risk to reoffend among sex offenders.

To celebrate Europe Day, the EU institutions open their doors to the public on 5 May in Brussels, 5 and 9 May in Luxembourg and 10 June in Strasbourg.

Local EU offices in Europe and all over the world organise a variety of activities and events for all ages.

Each year thousands of people take part in visits, debates, concerts and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU.

UCL Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science

Every year the global community of sexual and gender minorities identifies one specific focus issue for the celebrations around May 17th.
This focus issue is of course only a suggestion and it is left for everyone to see how this is relevant for their strategies

This year, the proposal is to focus attention on ALLIANCES for SOLIDARITY

Indeed, no battle can be won in isolation. We all need to keep strengthening alliances, especially when we need to ensure safety, fight violence, lobby for legal change, and/or campaign to change hearts and minds.

Putting the focus of the Day on Solidarity and Alliances can create a valuable opportunity for all of us to reach out to our current partners to reinforce our bond, to reach out to new partners to raise awareness of our commonalities, and to engage in collective action around the Day.

This focus should also be a welcome reminder of the need for solidarity within the communities of sexual and gender minorities, as the rights of one specific group cannot be solidly secured if the rights of other groups are left unchallenged.

The focus on alliances should also highlight the necessity for sexual and gender minorities to be allies to other vulnerable groups (e.g. migrants, people living in poverty, vulnerable children, etc.).

Nominations now open for crime prevention awards

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards. The awards recognise and reward good practice in the prevention and reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia.

Australian Institute of Criminology Director, Mr Michael Phelan said the awards are open to programs and projects of all sizes.

“We are looking for Australia’s most successful crime and violence prevention programs. We want to highlight the vital role community-based initiatives play in preventing crime and violence across the country and inspire other organisations to do the same,” Mr Phelan said.

“I strongly encourage law enforcement, government, community groups and members of the public to nominate their own or other programs that have made a positive impact on their community,” Mr Phelan said.

“These awards serve both to encourage public initiatives and assist the Government to identify and develop practical projects to reduce violence and other types of crime.

“Last year, 11 programs were recognised as winners for their outstanding contributions to their local communities.

“Uncovering and rewarding these projects appropriately is an important part of the Australian Institute of Criminology’s work. The Institute also promotes justice and reduces crime by conducting and sharing evidence-based research to inform policy and practice,” Mr Phelan said.

The awards are a joint initiative of the Australian and state and territory governments and are coordinated and hosted by the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Nominations close 12 June 2018. To apply for this year’s awards, visit www.aic.gov.au/acvpa2018  
 
 

Monday 16th - Friday 27th July 2018 (this course is held only once per year), at the Jill Dando Institute, UCL

“This has been one of the best courses I’ve attended. It has really put the application of theory into practice and cemented pre-existing knowledge. I think it will be very important discipline to have in forces and look forward to getting my hands dirty on some real cases. Brilliant stuff” Police Senior Intelligence Analyst

Geographic profiling is an investigative technique that uses the locations of a connected series of crime to work out where an offender most likely lives, or bases their criminal activities.  Its application has been significant in supporting investigations of a number of major crime series and its utility is increasing for volume crime investigation (including arson, robbery, burglary, criminal damage, fuel theft, metal theft, and theft from the person).  The principles of geographic profiling have also been applied to non-serial crime investigations.

The UCL JDI offer the only certified Geographic Profiling Analyst training programme outside of North America.  The course is designed to give analysts and researchers the background and skills required to develop and to interpret geographic profiles correctly, and to make actionable recommendations (i.e., when certified, analysts are ‘licensed’ to conduct geographic profiles).  Course tutors are Spencer Chainey (certified geographic profiling analyst) and Colin Johnson (Professional Geographic Profiler, formerly of the National Crime Agency).

WEDNESDAY,

MAY 30, 2018

This web conference will explore how conversations about sexuality and pornography can support, advance, and strengthen sexual and domestic violence prevention.

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance

Date: Thursday, May 24
Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET

In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Reentry Resource Center will review the FY18 Improving Reentry for Adults with Co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Illness application process.

This grant program will provide awards of up to $750,000 for a 36-month project period to states, units of local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and state-county authorized mental health authorities. Applicants must apply within one of the following three categories, depending upon their jurisdictional status:

• Category 1: Units or components of state government agencies serving adult offenders
• Category 2: Units or components of county or city local government agencies serving adult offenders
• Category 3: Federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native tribes and/or tribal organizations serving adult offenders.

Applications are due by June 18. 
See more Second Chance Act funding opportunities. 

Last week, the Australian Institute of Criminology released two new publications, which are available now on the AIC website.

Trends & Issues Papers

• Understanding and responding to victimisation of whistleblowers
• Impact of ballistic evidence on criminal investigations

For the latest crime and justice facts and figures, visit Crime Statistics Australia

Project period: 01 January 2016 – 31 December 2017
Funded by: Justice Programme of the European Commission, supported by the Austrian Ministry of Justice

In many European countries, a high number of people are held in pre-trial detention. Pre-trial detention primarily serves procedural purposes: to prevent a suspect from absconding, or from tampering with evidence. The justice system must have a way of ensuing that those accused turn up to their trial and/or sentencing hearing. Judicial systems quite often use detention as the easiest way of achieving this end. This is contrary to the principle that, with respect to the fundamental right to liberty and the presumption of innocence, deprivation of liberty must only be applied when less severe mechanisms are insufficient to exercise control over the suspect and to guarantee his or her presence at trial (with detention as the ultima ratio). Generally, the principle of subsidiarity must be applied in such a way that the suspect or accused may await the trial process in conditions of unrestricted liberty or, where justified, under specified restrictions. In prisons, remand detainees often suffer from worse conditions than sentenced prisoners. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture has called this a pan-European problem. Another common problem is the often observed excessive length of pre-trial detention. It must also be noted that in many European jurisdictions there is a high proportion of foreigners in pre-trial detention. The Framework Decision 2009/829 of the 'European supervision order' (ESO) could be a useful tool in this respect, but has not yet been fully implemented.

The use of alternatives to pre-trial detention, however, is not without difficulties for both suspects and practitioners. In the countries represented in the project, the availability of alternatives to pre-trial detention and their use vary considerably. These alternatives may take less invasive forms, such as release on recognizance with some obligations attached, including, for example, reporting regularly to the authorities. But they also may take the form of curfew, electronically monitored curfew, other forms of (police) supervision, or drug treatment. A fundamental problem that may arise from the use of alternatives to pre-trial detention is the potential for net-widening. There can also be a “hidden agenda” of e.g. punitive or coercive aims, which may go beyond the legitimate goals of the restriction. Further problems are the possible exclusion of foreigners or homeless people from such alternatives. 

This project aims at exploring and analysing pre-trial detention practice and especially different ways of reducing the use of pre-trial detention in seven European jurisdictions (Austria, Germany, Romania, Belgium, Lithuania, Ireland and the Netherlands). It is, on the one hand, focused on the human rights situation of the suspects who, in principle, should benefit from the presumption of innocence. On the other hand it addresses the views and needs of the judiciary who also depend on available alternatives, and also face other problems and obstacles with respect to the avoidance of pre-trial detention. Increasingly, and this will be another focus, cross-border cases need to be solved within the EU, for instance using the European Supervision order. The project aims at increasing mutual knowledge about and, where justified, trust in other jurisdictions within the EU. Central to all project activities, although not restricted to them, are judges and prosecutors, because they are the actors who make decisions on the basis of the law, but are also dependent on and influenced by certain conditions. All in all, the project is about learning from and with each other and contributing thereby to developments fostering the avoidance of pre-trial detention.

On the 16th of April, the 11th edition of the Electronic Monitoring Conference started. More than 230 participants from 40 countries attended the event in the wonderful city of Zagreb. The conference was jointly organised with the Probation Service in the Republic of Croatia and the theme of this year was ‘Blurring Boundaries, making and breaking connections’. 

Blurring Boundaries

Electronic monitoring (EM) has matured into a commonplace penal tool used widely across Europe and beyond. Its applications appear to be limitless and its purposes diverse.

As a result, it is being viewed increasingly as a panacea for a range of societal challenges within and beyond criminal justice leading to numerous uses including in the areas of mental health, domestic violence; terrorism and immigration and diverse target groups including mental health patients, children and young people, victims of domestic violence as well as offenders.

The expansion of existing and potential target areas and groups and the goals and purposes of EM has contributed to blurring of the normative and operational boundaries within which EM is used.

Sharing and learning

During the three-day event, the participants got the chance to be updated about the newest technical developments in EM, to hear the latest experiences with EM from the different probation services and to exchange ideas on the topic. Four presentations were held and in the workshops the topics were further discussed. The conference started with the “Croatian electronic monitoring build-up session”, in which the implementation and use of electronic monitoring in Croatia was explained. This session was followed by a presentation given by Prof. Anthea Hucklesby about “Blurring boundaries with electronic monitoring; (mental) health, immigration and radicalism”. On the second day Deborah Thompson and Prof. Hannah Graham presented their work about “App technologies, probation and electronic monitoring”. After their presentations, it was time for the topic Police and electronic monitoring. Presentations were held by Jeff Hudgkinson and Prof. Anthea Hucklesby. On Wednesday the 18th of April Prof. Kristel Beyens held the final presentation of the 11th Electronic Monitoring Conference, about “Electronic monitoring and the problem of net-widening”.

Workshop results

Workshop Blurring boundaries with electronic monitoring; (mental) health, immigration and radicalism

Workshop App technologies, probation and electronic monitoring

Workshop Police and electronic monitoring

Workshop Electronic monitoring and the problem of net-widening

Over 10.35 million people are in prison globally, and prisoners have a disproportionately high rate of mental ill-health; research suggests that around one in seven prisoners has a serious mental health condition.

This guide, which was produced with the financial assistance of Matrix Chambers, as well as contributions from a range of international and national mental health experts and practitioners, seeks to help prison staff understand and respond appropriately to the mental health needs of adult prisoners. It focuses on how prison staff can promote and protect mental health and well-being and enable those with existing conditions to function better in the prison environment. Guidance is based on a human rights-based and holistic approach, as required by the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).

New research on identity crime and public sex offender registries

Last week, the Australian Institute of Criminology released two new publications, which are available now on the AIC website.

Statistical Report

• Identity crime and misuse in Australia

Trends & Issues Paper

• What impact do public sex offender registries have on community safety?

For the latest crime and justice facts and figures, visit Crime Statistics Australia.