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Implementation
maintaining public order and ensuring safety, the mayor is able to take measures. An example of a
measure that can be taken within this framework involves accommodating the offender elsewhere
within the municipality in order to prevent the victim from being confronted with the offender. The
Pilot plus is being evaluated in the second half of 2011, and if the outcome is positive, the provision
of information to municipalities will be implemented on a national scale in 2012. 655
3.6.4 Youth offenders
It is not only adults who are guilty of child pornography offences; an average of 8% of the suspects and 5%
of the convicted perpetrators are minors. 656 As already described in §1.4.2, child pornography offences
committed by minors may involve the production, distribution and possession of material involving
children, obtained by sexting for example, and in addition to this, they may also be involved in hands-on
sexual abuse, also towards younger children. In the same way as adult offenders, the group of offenders
of sexual abuse towards children is not heterogeneous, and the likelihood of re-offending varies. 657 The
form and extent of after-care and supervision of young offenders of sexual violence against children must
naturally be brought into line with this. The current sub-section does not contain an exhaustive description
of after-care and supervision measures for offenders who are minors and young adults. However,
it does briefly describe two aspects with regard to young offenders, namely the treatment of young sex
offenders, and the youth probation and after-care services.
Residential specialist treatment of young sex offenders
The sexual behaviour of some young sex offenders is extremely inappropriate, whereby it is often the
case that serious underlying psychopathology is involved. In order to limit re-offending as much as
possible within this group, (residential) treatment that is designed specifically to meet the needs of the
offender is necessary in many cases. Since the end of the 1980s, Avenier 658 has focused on developing
treatment for youth sex offenders. The target group on which Avenier focuses is boys aged twelve and
over who have committed one or more sexual offences (hands-on or hands-off ) and are subject to an
increased or a (very) increased risk of re-offending. 659 In general, these young people are characterised
by a negative self image, inadequate skills and depressive symptoms. In addition to this, they are often
victims of bullying and have sometimes even been abused themselves. Although these young sex
offenders have committed serious sexual offences, on the basis of the above characteristics, they are
often considered to be ‘pathetic’ children, meaning that the risks that they pose to their surroundings
are underestimated. Although in the eyes of their family and friends, treatment within a secure setting
that is focused on the sexual behaviour that is extremely inappropriate will sometimes seems too
severe an intervention, Avenier believes that the underlying psychopathology is serious, and that early
655 Parliamentary Papers II 2010/11, 32 500 VI, no.97.
656 See §3.5.4.4, Figure 3.26 and Figure 3.27.
657 Van Wijk, 2010, pp.42-55. See also §1.4.2.
658 Avenier is an institution for intensive youth care for approximately 360 young people between the ages
of 12 and 18. The Anker site in Harreveld, previously the Harreveld Young People’s Centre, provides
youth care Plus (secure phase) with a high level of monitoring. Young people with various problems
can come here. Within the safety of the secure environment, they are able to work on their problems.
There are two groups specifically aimed at young people with sexual problems. See www.desprengen.
nl/nl/p4cd2955ac7c2a/locatie-anker.html (viewed 26 August 2011).
659 Schotel-van der Veer, 2009, p.10.
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