German Association for Juvenile Courts and Juvenile Court Assistance

The Deutsche Vereinigung für Jugendgerichte und Jugendgerichtshilfen e.V. (DVJJ) is a German registered non-profit association that represents the professional interests of juvenile court judges and juvenile prosecutors and serves as a forum for scientific exchange on juvenile delinquency and criminal policy. It was founded in 1917 at the fourth German Juvenile Court Day (Deutscher Jugendgerichtstag) in Berlin and has since been closely involved in the development of German juvenile criminal law, accompanying the introduction of the Reichsjugendgerichtsgesetz of 1923 and later contributing to the Jugendgerichtsgesetz of 1953. During the Nazi period the association was dissolved in 1934, and many of its members were banned from working while others accommodated themselves to the regime; it was re-founded in Berlin after the war. The modern association was shaped above all by Horst Schüler-Springorum, who served as managing director from 1962 to 1968 and as chairman from 1968 to 1986. The DVJJ is a membership organisation with roughly 1,500 members drawn largely from the field of juvenile criminal justice: juvenile judges, prosecutors, defence lawyers, police officers, juvenile court assistance and youth welfare staff, youth welfare offices, social workers and social pedagogues, as well as academics and students in relevant disciplines. It works through 17 regional groups and six federal working communities (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaften). Its statutory tasks include informing members about questions, findings, experience reports, discussions and research relating to juvenile delinquency; developing and representing professional and policy positions and statements; promoting interdisciplinary exchange and further training through working circles, specialist conferences and training offers; advising members on project development and practical problems; fostering cooperation among professionals, institutions and organisations of the justice system and youth welfare at federal, state and regional level; participating in other professional organisations and associations; cooperating with scientific and research institutions and with education and training bodies; maintaining international contacts and cooperation; and preparing the German Juvenile Court Day, normally held every three years. The association is consulted in all political deliberations on youth welfare or juvenile criminal law. The DVJJ publishes a book series and the quarterly journal Zeitschrift für Jugendkriminalrecht und Jugendhilfe (ZJJ), whose predecessor was the DVJJ-Journal; conference proceedings are published for the Juvenile Court Days. Its office is located in Hannover, Lützerodestraße 9. The current chair is Theresia Höynck (University of Kassel), who took over from Bernd-Rüdeger Sonnen (University of Hamburg) at the 28th Juvenile Court Day in Münster. The association also engages with European frameworks such as EU Directive 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children in criminal proceedings.

The Deutsche Vereinigung für Jugendgerichte und Jugendgerichtshilfen e.V. (DVJJ) was founded as a non-profit association in 1917 at the fourth German Juvenile Court Day in Berlin. It accompanied the introduction of the Reichsjugendgerichtsgesetz (Reich Juvenile Court Act) of 1923. During the period of National Socialism, numerous association members were banned from working, while others accommodated themselves to the Nazi regime. The association was dissolved in 1934, but several members took part in the work on the Reichsjugendgerichtsgesetz of 1943 and later on the Jugendgerichtsgesetz (Juvenile Court Act) of 1953. A re-foundation took place again in Berlin. The present-day association was substantially shaped by Horst Schüler-Springorum, who was managing director of the DVJJ from 1962 to 1968 and chairman from 1968 to 1986. Under its statutes, the association pursues a broad set of tasks: comprehensive information of members on questions, findings, experience reports, discussions and investigations connected with juvenile delinquency; development and representation of professional and policy positions and statements; promotion of interdisciplinary exchange and further training of occupational groups active in juvenile jurisdiction at regional and supra-regional level through working circles, specialist conferences and training offers; advice to members on the development and realisation of projects and on solving practical problems; promotion of cooperation among professionals, institutions and organisations of the justice system and youth welfare at federal, state and regional level; participation in other professional organisations and associations; cooperation with organisations and institutions of science and research and of education, further and continuing training; maintenance of contacts and cooperation at international level; and preparation of the German Juvenile Court Day, normally at intervals of three years, with any deviation requiring a resolution of the members' assembly. The association is consulted in all political deliberations on youth welfare or juvenile criminal law. The DVJJ recruits its members largely from the field of juvenile criminal justice: (juvenile) judges, prosecutors, lawyers, the police, juvenile court assistance, youth welfare, youth welfare offices, social workers and social pedagogues, but also academics and students of relevant disciplines. Current membership is about 1,500. The association works in 17 regional groups and six federal working communities. It publishes a book series and the quarterly Zeitschrift für Jugendkriminalrecht und Jugendhilfe (ZJJ), whose predecessor was the DVJJ-Journal; conference proceedings are published for the Juvenile Court Days. With the 28th Juvenile Court Day in Münster, Theresia Höynck (University of Kassel) succeeded Bernd-Rüdeger Sonnen (University of Hamburg) as chair. The office is located in Hannover, Lützerodestraße 9.

• 1968

  Horst Schüler-Springorum becomes chairman (until 1986).

• 1962

  Horst Schüler-Springorum becomes managing director (until 1968).

• 1953

  Members contributed to the Jugendgerichtsgesetz (Juvenile Court Act) of 1953; association re-founded in Berlin.

• 1943

  Several members participated in work on the Reichsjugendgerichtsgesetz of 1943.

• 1934

  Association dissolved during the National Socialist period; many members banned from working.

• 1923

  Accompanied the introduction of the Reichsjugendgerichtsgesetz (Reich Juvenile Court Act).

• 1917

  Founded as a non-profit association at the fourth German Juvenile Court Day in Berlin.

• Theresia Höynck (University of Kassel) succeeds Bernd-Rüdeger Sonnen (University of Hamburg) as chair at the 28th Juvenile Court Day in Münster.

A non-profit professional and scientific association representing practitioners and researchers in German juvenile criminal justice and youth welfare, and a recognised voice in juvenile criminal policy.

• Zeitschrift für Jugendkriminalrecht und Jugendhilfe (ZJJ)

  Quarterly journal of the DVJJ; predecessor was the DVJJ-Journal.

• DVJJ-Schriftenreihe

  Book series published by the association.

• Tagungsbände der Jugendgerichtstage

  Proceedings published for the German Juvenile Court Days.

1. 1Startseite - DVJJdvjj.de
2. 2Deutsche Vereinigung für Jugendgerichte und Jugendgerichtshilfen – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Deutsche Vereinigung für Jugendgerichte und Jugendgerichtshilfen – Wikidatawikidata.org