In Italy the new code of criminal procedure for minors is aimed to avoid youth detention, thanks to alternative measures and strategies for inclusion. Nevertheless there are still negative psychological issues, because alternative punishments are not easily applied to minors that lack social networks, and particularly for two sorts of them: the minors living in the South, often involved in organized crime; and the foreign ones, whose presence is relevant in juvenile jails. As we know, Italy was the native country for many migrants in the last two centuries. In the Nineties, because of wars, poverty and crisis, Italy became rapidly a host country for migrants, both adults and children. A large number of the last ones had not a real migration plan, so – without a study or work opportunity – they may have possibility to become involved in a deviant group. In juvenile jails foreign minors are a very heterogeneous group, including and they are vulnerable in two ways, because they aren’t able to fulfill their need on their own, and because of their migration status, which turns them to “stranger” and “different” within the social relationships. What’s more, those who are unaccompanied, without a legally responsible adult, are facing alone all difficulties. Forced to grow up quickly, they are often distrustful. The most serious problems appear outside, after their release, and at times – paradoxically – they may have more opportunities in justice institutions than in the social contexts. At present our Community Psychology team is committed in a European Project to prevent violent radicalization in minors, including all the stakeholders from penal, educational and civic institutions, and foreseeing also an involvement of young university students, so to build social networks among youth.

Research and interventions for minors, charged or involved in crimes / Meringolo, Patrizia. - ELETTRONICO. - (2017), pp. 0-0. (Intervento presentato al convegno Contributions of Psychology to Peace tenutosi a Rome and Florence nel 21-27 May, 2017).

Research and interventions for minors, charged or involved in crimes

MERINGOLO, PATRIZIA
2017

Abstract

In Italy the new code of criminal procedure for minors is aimed to avoid youth detention, thanks to alternative measures and strategies for inclusion. Nevertheless there are still negative psychological issues, because alternative punishments are not easily applied to minors that lack social networks, and particularly for two sorts of them: the minors living in the South, often involved in organized crime; and the foreign ones, whose presence is relevant in juvenile jails. As we know, Italy was the native country for many migrants in the last two centuries. In the Nineties, because of wars, poverty and crisis, Italy became rapidly a host country for migrants, both adults and children. A large number of the last ones had not a real migration plan, so – without a study or work opportunity – they may have possibility to become involved in a deviant group. In juvenile jails foreign minors are a very heterogeneous group, including and they are vulnerable in two ways, because they aren’t able to fulfill their need on their own, and because of their migration status, which turns them to “stranger” and “different” within the social relationships. What’s more, those who are unaccompanied, without a legally responsible adult, are facing alone all difficulties. Forced to grow up quickly, they are often distrustful. The most serious problems appear outside, after their release, and at times – paradoxically – they may have more opportunities in justice institutions than in the social contexts. At present our Community Psychology team is committed in a European Project to prevent violent radicalization in minors, including all the stakeholders from penal, educational and civic institutions, and foreseeing also an involvement of young university students, so to build social networks among youth.
2017
Contributions of Psychology to peace. Bridging across generations: turning research into action for children and families.
Contributions of Psychology to Peace
Rome and Florence
Meringolo, Patrizia
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1086548
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