This editorial offers an introduction to the current issue.

In memoriam Rob Blekxtoon

To what extent have the Dutch police a distinct culture that corresponds with the image of police culture as it has been described in American studies of the 1960s and 1970s? A survey among 260 police officers shows that the Dutch police culture has a strong emphasis on mission, action, and cynicism. Other well-known elements, like conservatism and machismo proved to be less important. In accordance with the stress-coping theory police culture proved to be stronger if police officers were confronted with internal and external stress. Police culture is positively related with a crime fighting police style, and negatively with a service/guardian style. No relations could be found with a professional police style.

Since 2003, Dutch juveniles on remand who go to school or have work can be held in ‘night detention’: they attend their school or work during the day and spend the nights and weekends in a young offender institution. The authors examine how this form of youth detention relates to basic principles in juvenile criminal law and penitentiary law. They argue that based on international standards stating that juveniles should be detained with as few restraints as possible, night detention should be made available if circumstances allow it not only for juveniles on remand, but for juveniles subject to any form of detention.

The author describes new developments of criminal justice in practice.

Recent scientific studies have shown that a major part of juvenile delinquency is due to the incomplete development of adolescents and will stop before the age of 23. The Convention on the Rights of the Child and the accompanying General Comment Children’s rights in juvenile justice give detailed guidelines about juvenile justice. This article focuses on an advice of the Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Protection of Juveniles, according to which both of these developments require adjustment of the lower and upper age limit of criminal responsibility for juvenile offenders and justify a special criminal law for adolescents.

In a column a journal editor or an author expresses his or her opinion on a particular subject.