In 2012 two researches were implemented: The execution of the educational measure of specific obligations (both individually and with the educational measure of intensified supervision) andStatistics on juvenile offenders for the period 2007-2011. Both studies have emerged as a result of the project “Strengthening the juvenile justice system in the Republic of Serbia”, implemented by the Child Rights Centre, in partnership with UNICEF, initiated by the Council for monitoring and improving the work of criminal procedure and criminal sanctions against minors.
The first survey presents collecting the data for the territory under jurisdiction covering Higher Courts in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad in the period of six years (as of 1 January 2006 till 31 December 2011) pertaining to the enforcement of the educational measure of special obligations as an independent criminal penalty (Article 14 of the Law on Juvenile offenders) and corrective measures pronounced cumulatively with the educational measure of intensified supervision (Article 19 of the Law on Juvenile offenders). The overall objective of this study was that, through the analysis of specific cases and proceedings with them, to determine the real state of the execution of the educational measure ‘special obligation’, to determine the capacity and the obstacles to its implementation, and to provide the basis for recommendations to improve the application this institute.
The second research was aimed at consideration of juvenile crime as a whole for the period 2007-2011. Results of this research are based on official statistical data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia.
The results of both studies are presented in the publication Step Toward Taking Responsibility that was presented to professional and general public at a press conference held on 13 December 2012 in Media Center in Belgrade.
