From 1 February 2025, Jolande uit Beijerse has been reappointed Professor of Justitiële Jeugdinterventies (Judicial Youth Interventions) at Erasmus School of Law. This chair within the Department of Law, Society & Crime, which she has held since 2021, provides the opportunity to conduct innovative research centred on societal impact, the integration of legal disciplines, and a overarching children's rights perspective on judicial youth interventions.
Uit Beijerse conducts research across the broad field of criminal law, always focusing on the connection between legal principles and their practical implementation. She has long been committed to pioneering research that examines juvenile (criminal) law within its societal context, viewed from the perspective of the young people involved.
Where science and practice meet
This is clearly reflected in her multidisciplinary research, which strongly focuses on generating positive societal impact for legal practice, as seen in the Reprimande pilot and symposia that have garnered significant interest and fostered strong ties with practitioners. This month also saw the publication of the sixth revised edition of her handbook, Jeugdstrafrecht in theorie en praktijk*. (Juvenile Criminal Law in Theory and Practice). Her commitment to impactful research is also evident in collaborations that may not seem obvious at first but exemplify her approach as a scholar, such as the report Eenzaam Gesloten. In this study, Jason Bhugwandass, inspired by his own experiences, investigated the perspectives of young people placed in ZIKOS (Intensive Observation and Stabilisation Units). During his research, Bhugwandass confided in the chairholder, who was able to provide support when the study initially faced scepticism.
Currently, Uit Beijerse is working with a unique consortium of academics and practitioners on the NWA project In Search of Trust. Within this project, she is particularly involved in research conducted in collaboration with young people with lived experience, focusing on the criminal careers of persistent juvenile offenders, their experiences within the justice system, and the role of legal professionals they encounter.
Placing the perspective of young people at the centre
Within the Chair of Justitiële Jeugdinterventies, Uit Beijerse will continue to focus on research into all forms of judicial coercion and compulsion, ensuring that the needs of children and young people remain paramount and are assessed against national and European children's rights standards. Given that the perspective of young people is central to this chair, juvenile criminal law naturally intersects with child protection law and criminology.
It is precisely at this intersection that Uit Beijerse operates: "The current developments in youth crime in a city like Rotterdam—such as vulnerable young people being lured with money to retrieve drugs from the port, carry out explosions, or even participate in contract killings—demand an interdisciplinary approach that considers practice, the young people involved, and society as a whole."
Law in relation to legal practice
Uit Beijerse’s problem-oriented approach, in which law is not viewed in isolation or as an end in itself, but in relation to its functioning within legal practice, aligns seamlessly with the university’s mission: Creating positive societal impact.
The Board of Erasmus School of Law congratulates Jolande uit Beijerse on her reappointment and wishes her all the best with her activities.
*New Edition: Jeugdstrafrecht in theorie en praktijk (Juvenile Criminal Law in Theory and Practice)
Jeugdstrafrecht in theorie en praktijk provides a clear and up-to-date overview of how juvenile criminal law has been shaped in the Netherlands and evolved over the past century. The book takes the reader into practice, offering insights from the perspective of young people who come into contact with the justice system.
This fully revised edition, with an updated title, places even greater emphasis on practical application and the stories behind juvenile criminal cases. Each chapter contextualises these cases within international and European children's rights standards and the underlying legislative choices.
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