Abstract:

Education and school attendance are normal developmental milestones for youth and can serve as important protective factors against delinquency and involvement in the juvenile justice system.

The main purpose of this paper is to know, analyze and understand the needs of the young offenders who will leave the criminal justice system and the difficulties and problems they will encounter in the inclusion in education.

The target population of this study is composed by young people (n=90) who are in criminal justice system (internment in an educative centre or have a noncustodial measure). In order to identify and analyze the needs of young offenders, a questionnaire specifically designed for this purpose was used. This paper is related to measures and strategies for social inclusion and support for young people in their transition from criminal justice system to an independent life through education.

The study concludes with discussion of the importance of educational achievement as an important turning point for youth leaving criminal justice system as their transition into young adulthood. To enable them to continue their education, in the form of studying at institutes of higher education, financial security is required (e.g. through scholarships). Practical support is also necessary, along with counseling programs related to the requirements of their course of study. Such strategies, combined with high expectations and a focus on individual needs, may result in more positive educational outcomes.

Keywords:

Education, criminal justice system, delinquency, young offenders.