Centre for the Prevention of Youth Crime

Study of impact factors, development trajectories and outcomes in secure residential care

In 2021, the Centre began a qualitative longitudinal study of impact factors, development trajectories and outcomes in secure residential care. This study foregrounds the perspectives of the young people who are the addressees of these interventions. The central questions it seeks to address are: What works well in those settings? For whom does it work? And under what conditions?

This empirical research sets out to determine how these care settings are experienced by the young people involved and to ascertain what long-term developments and effects can be described. It evaluates the development trajectories and outcomes experienced by the young people and at their links to factors that could plausibly have some bearing on them (such as the group context, pedagogical relationships, the participation of the young people, transition management that secures the young people's future prospects, etc.).

The researchers are interested in the interruption of behaviour that represents self-harm or harm to others, but also in the question of what effects come to light with regard to social integration and the fostering and advancement of social skills.

To qualify the study design and give the envisaged target groups a chance to have a say, workshops were held before the beginning of the study with professionals from relevant facilities and with young people with experience in secure residential care.

The young people participating in the study will be interviewed on five occasions in total over a period of up to three years.
 

Fig.: Waves of data collection with young people

The recruitment of young people for the interviews with addressees began in May 2022. The first wave of data collection was completed in November 2022, with a total of 18 participating young people from seven facilities . All 18 participating young people were also interviewed in the second survey wave. This wave was completed in February 2023. The third survey wave was conducted from March to August 2023. 17 young people were interviewed.

In parallel with the third wave of data collection, one practitioner from each participating facility was interviewed about the socio-educational approach pursued by the relevant facility and about the impact factors, development trajectories and outcomes that have been observed. The fourth wave of interviews was conducted from March to August 2024. 15 young people were interviewed.