Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.
Risk Assessment Instrument Juvenile Criminal Justice (Ritax)
- Organisation
- Child Protection Board
- Theme
- Law
- Status
- In use
General information
Name
Short description
Organisation
Theme
Status
Begin date
Contact information
Publication category
Responsible use
Goal and impact
The RvdK provides criminal advice to the public prosecutor and the juvenile court for young people aged 12 to 18. The RvdK uses the Landelijk Instrumentarium Jeugdstrafrechtketen (LIJ), of which the Ritax is a part, in its investigation to provide the most appropriate punishment advice for the young person. The RvdK investigator talks to the young person, parents and often school. With this information, a questionnaire is completed. The RvdK produces a report containing the results of the Ritax and the advice. This report is given to the young person, the parents, the juvenile court and the public prosecutor.
Considerations
Research shows that an estimate based on the results of a scientific instrument is better than the estimate based solely on the experience of the researcher. The calculation model behind the recidivism rates is based on scientific research on factors influencing juvenile recidivism. The outcome of the Ritax, together with the researcher's opinion, leads to the sentencing recommendation.
Human intervention
When using the Ritax, there is always human intervention. The RvdK researcher checks the outcome of the Ritax and whether it matches the young person's own impression. The researcher, in consultation with a colleague ('4-eye principle'), makes the final decision on the most appropriate punishment advice for the young person.
Risk management
The effectiveness of the Ritax is regularly tested scientifically. The results of these tests are checked by an independent scientific committee. The Ritax is only used by authorised, trained staff. Only relevant staff of the RvdK can look at the outcomes of the Ritax in the system. If necessary, these results are shared with judicial organisations such as juvenile probation and correctional facilities. This is because of the young person's privacy.
Legal basis
The basis for the RvdK's use of Ritax lies in their statutory duties. The duties that apply when using Ritax are set out in the Criminal Code (Sr) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Sv). The advisory task in the event of a behaviour-influencing measure is described in article 77w, paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code, the advisory task in the event of detention and early assistance is described in article 490 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the advisory task in criminal cases of juveniles is described in articles 494/494a/498 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Below are hyperlinks to the articles of law in the above order.
Links to legal bases
- artikel 77w, lid 2 Sr: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001854&boek=Eerste&titeldeel=VIII_A&artikel=77w&z=2023-10-01&g=2023-10-01
- artikel 490 Sv: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001903&boek=Vierde&titeldeel=II&afdeling=Tweede&artikel=490&z=2023-10-01&g=2023-10-01
- artikelen 494/494a/498 Sv: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001903&boek=Vierde&titeldeel=II&afdeling=Tweede&artikel=494&z=2023-10-01&g=2023-10-01
Elaboration on impact assessments
DPIA, an IAMA will be conducted in 2024.
Operations
Data
The Ritax uses personal data of the young person and, if necessary, persons from the young person's household, including special and criminal personal data. These data are only used if they are also necessary for the analysis.
- Data of the young person include: name, criminal justice number (SKN), date of birth, mental and health problems, physical problems, whether there is medication use directly related to a diagnosis, other person-related problems, description of relevant context factors and expected impact of intended intervention.
- Data of persons from the adolescent's household concern: whether there is a judicial/detention history, whether there are relevant psychological and health problems, physical problems, or person-related problems, description of relevant context factors and expected impact of intended intervention.
- Third-party data include: name, address and contact person of school and, if applicable, of other organisations involved, such as aid agencies.
Links to data sources
Technical design
In the Ritax, all questions are completed by clicking a bullet. All answers are accompanied by points. The Ritax adds up all the points. These points are assigned to risk groups. The answer categories of most questions have a scale ranging from no risk to high risk. The choice of scoring is scientifically based. Extensive analyses determined when the young person falls into very low/low/mid/high/very high risk or protection for each topic. The outcome is made visible in a diagram where the risk factors and protective factors are shown in red and green for each subject. Using the young person's protective and risk factors, the Ritax looks at which punishment would be most appropriate, for example a learning punishment or supervision by the juvenile probation service. The RvdK investigator decides which punishment is ultimately recommended.