The Youth Team

Riga 21.11.2008

Jarkko Riikonen

Special Youth Worker

2Jarkko 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.

3Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker

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.

4Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker

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

5Jarkko Riikonen, Special Youth Worker

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