Police interrogation of juvenile offenders: children's rights not allowed? The Belgian case

Camille Claeys, Els Dumortier, Sofie De Kimpe

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingMeeting abstract (Book)

Abstract

Police interrogations are the starting point of criminal procedures against juvenile offenders. However, research on police interrogations of juvenile offenders remains scarce. In Belgium this seems even more true, for there has never been any scientific research on how police interrogates juvenile offenders.
Moreover, legislation and literature on this subject are limited.
When it comes to police interrogations of minor victims of sexual abuse, it's another story: the interrogation of that target group receives a lot more attention.

In this contribution we will reflect on the interrogation of the juvenile offender from a children's rights perspective, based on an overview of legislation, literature and case-law.

On the one hand we will analyse the international, European and national children's rights framework, applicable at the level of the police. More precisely we will analyse what fundamental rights are accorded to minors who come into conflict with the law and who are interrogated by the (Belgian) police.

On the other hand, questions can and should be raised on whether and how these rights are applied in practice. Does the rhetoric match the reality of the practice? What major problems can occur in daily practice?
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEuropean Society of Criminology, Budapest, 4-7 September 2013
Publication statusPublished - 4 Sep 2013
EventUnknown -
Duration: 4 Sep 2013 → …

Publication series

NameEuropean Society of Criminology, Budapest, 4-7 September 2013

Conference

ConferenceUnknown
Period4/09/13 → …

Keywords

  • Police interrogations
  • juvenile delinquency
  • minor offenders
  • children's rights

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