As of 2 February 2021, Jolande uit Beijerse has been appointed Professor of Judicial Youth Interventions (0.2fte) at the Criminology department of Erasmus School of Law. She has become an expert in Youth Justice in addition to her long career as an academic at the Criminal Law Department of the School.
The research of Uit Beijerse is not only about legislation and its underlying principles but especially also about the implementation and effects. That is why she has always combined her academic research and teaching with subsidiary positions, such as deputy judge at the Rotterdam District Court (Juvenile Team) and member of the supervisory committee of a judicial juvenile institution. Uit Beijerse has built an extensive network including national and European Youth Justice academics and professionals from the juvenile justice system.
The necessity of an overarching interdisciplinary approach
There have been many developments in the past years within the field of Youth interventions. One of which is the increasingly personal approach within Juvenile Criminal Law, including interventions in the community instead of in an institution. However, coincidingly, there is a growing shortage of this kind of intervention within Juvenile Protection Law, which has been delegated to the municipalities since the introduction of the Juvenile Law in 2015. Moreover, the legal position of children and juveniles who are confronted with pressure and coercion within the context of Juvenile Protection Law is less well-regulated compared to that in Juvenile Criminal Law. The increasing public debate on this topic requires an overarching interdisciplinary approach, in which broad expertise in both Juvenile Criminal Law and Juvenile Protection Law is required.
Innovative research with societal relevance
The Chair ‘Judicial Youth Interventions’ enables innovative research, in which Law is seen in its social context via an interdisciplinary approach and includes the perspective of the juvenile offenders themselves. Rotterdam is an excellent research field due to its very diverse Youth issues. The Chair contributes to the acquisition of new insights for both policy and practice, making a seamless fit with the research mission of Erasmus School of Law.
Uit Beijerse will remain working within the Criminal Law department as an associate professor in addition to the new part-time Chair ‘Judicial Youth Interventions’ at the Criminology department. The Board of Erasmus School of Law congratulates Jolande uit Beijerse with this appointment and wishes her good luck with her activities.
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