Over 1 in 10 Dutch young people have been suspected of a crime

More than 1 in 10 young people is suspected of a crime at least once, according to a study released Thursday by the Scientific Research and Documentation Center (WODC). For every group of adolescents who began primary school in the same year, the societal costs associated with crime are estimated to total almost 2.6 billion euros.

The study followed about 500,000 individuals who finished primary school between 2008 and 2011, monitoring them over 11 years. Their ages ranged on average from 12 to 23. The researchers believe that a sample of this size offers a reliable insight into how adolescents engage in criminal behavior.

A large majority of the youths who encountered the justice system, over 44,000, were suspected only once. Another 5,000 were suspected at least 6 times, averaging almost 13 suspicions each. Even though being a suspect does not necessarily mean a crime was committed, the researchers describe these patterns as “intensive criminal career paths.”

Most suspicions involved property crimes, including theft, while vandalism, violent incidents, traffic violations, and drug offenses were likewise frequently recorded.

The small group of youths with the highest number of crime suspicions is responsible for the majority of the overall damage. According to the report, a “tipping point” appears to occur between the second and fourth suspicion in adolescence. This suggests that intervention is likely to be most effective when applied around that stage.

Overall, the picture is encouraging. Since 2007/2008, there has been a marked decrease in the number of youths suspected or found guilty of criminal offenses, though this downward trend has slowed again in the years following 2018.