CHALLENGES FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE EFFICIENT APPLICATION OF CUSTODIAL EDUCATIONAL MEASURES

Abstract

The institutionalization of juveniles and young offenders who perform a custodial educational measure in an educational centre raises a number of challenges both economic and social with direct consequences in terms of the effectiveness of their resocialization and reintegration into society. That is why an important change was felt in the criminal and social policies for the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency in Romanian society and the ways of prevention, intervention and post-intervention developed by institutions with the role of socialization, adaptation and social control of young people were considerably diversified. This paper is part of a larger research that aimed to identify the psycho-social effects of educational measures of deprivation of liberty applied to young offenders in Romania. The research participants (n = 12) are professionals who work in two educative centres in Romania, Târgu Ocna Educative Centre and Buziaş Educative Centre. The research method used to collect the data was the focus group. The research conclusions show us that the educational measure of internment in an educative centre must activate processes of responsibility, favouring the change of personal lifestyles and social and family relations. The intervention of specialists, focused mainly on education, work, religion and cultural, recreational and sports activities, must respond to the principle of individualization, must be modulated by the personality needs of each, based primarily on the individual resources of each. Our research demonstrates that all these results can be achieved only through continuous and adequate training of professionals working with juvenile delinquents.