Duisburg (dpa / lnw) - The North Rhine-Westphalian prevention program "Turn a curve" has been trying since 2011 to protect 1,000 minors at risk of crime from a "career" as an intensive offender. 40 percent of the graduates would no longer be criminals after such a course, NRW Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul (CDU) reported on Wednesday in Duisburg. "For the remaining 60 percent, the number of crimes is halved by participating in the initiative," the ministry said.
A possible development into an intensive offender is usually evident at an early stage. Six to ten percent of all suspected children and young people are responsible for up to 50 percent of crimes in this age group. On average, participants in the program are almost 13 years old when they join voluntarily. The police, together with pedagogical specialists, are trying to get minors with risky living conditions, who have already been noticed several times through crime, back on track.
According to the information, "getting around" costs around 11,000 euros a year per participant. "We're investing heavily in this initiative and it's paying off," said Reul. Up to the age of 25, an average of 100 victims and social follow-up costs of around 1.7 million euros can be attributed to an intensive offender. "Getting a curve" prevents such "intensive offender careers," emphasized Reul. "Crime prevention is the best protection for victims."
According to the ministry, the program is unique in Germany and has now been established in 40 of the 47 district police authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia. The success story of "Turning a curve" has aroused great interest both in other federal states and internationally. In Sweden it is planned to implement the program from March 2023 under the name "Back on track".
