The Youth Team Riga 21 11 2008 Jarkko

The Youth Team Riga 21. 11. 2008 Jarkko Riikonen Special Youth Worker

The Team • The Youth Team is a group of professionals from different sectors, the main task of which is to investigate, estimate and prevent the crimes of young people less than 18 years of age. • The Team has been established by The Social Sector of Joensuu and by the North Karelia Police Department. Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker 2

Persons • The persons in the Youth Team are: • • police sergeant Anssi Riikonen senior constable Kati Juntunen social worker Heli Treuthardt special youth worker Jarkko Riikonen and social instructor Arja Salminen. • The police officers are employed by the North Karelia Police Department and the others by the city of Joensuu. • This type of group is unique in Finland. Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker 3

The tasks of the Youth Team • to cut the crime circle of youngsters less than 18 years of age and to strenghten them socially • to estimate and evaluate the nature and amount of crimes committed by young and to report possible changes respectively • to survey possible movements among young people and their effects • to intervene and stop the crimes committed by the young people • to co-operate with the other institutions of the society in supporting the young to find their places in the society • to share and distribute information about the culture of the young people • to support the young immigrants to adjust themselves into the Finnish society Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker 4

The means of the Youth Team • Whenever a youngster gets involved with the police, either via a fine or via a custody-taking, an immediate notice is sent to the parents and to the Child Protection Authorities. Also the parents are interviewed • The parents are supported in raising up their children. • Speedy and effective investigation in crime cases, where a youngster is involved • An early and preventable co-operation between the police, social sector and other support and care-taking instances to deal with the young perpetrator. If possible, a young perpetrator might be given a chance to solve his crime through conciliating Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker 5