Citation

Dollinger B. Monatssc. Kriminol. Strafrechtsreform 2012; 95(1): 1-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

In the context of juvenile justice, professionalism is neither a popular nor well researched concept. Against this background, the contribution discusses reasons to pay special attention to the preconditions and implications of professional practice within the juvenile justice system. In particular, two aspects are discussed which are crucial for a delineation of professionalism: On the one hand, an actor's discretion is identified as a core principle. On the other hand, an analytical multi-level model is used to determine influences on the use of discretionary power. Referring to current empirical findings, it is argued that professionalism is constituted paradoxically: It contains a wide margin of individual discretion, yet at the same time it is located in societal, organizational, and biographical contexts that exert fundamental influences on processes of decision making. Options of reflexive professionalism. which are currently being discussed in the socio-scientific literature on professionalism are thus hindered by multiple path-dependencies. Yet, possibilities exist to change practical routines and to establish a more reflexive form of professionalism.

Language: de