CONTINUUM OF INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN RISK IN FRANCE

Paper presents review of social and justice interventions for children and youth in risk in France, according to legislation and official statistics of relevant institutions. Continuum of interventions is described from prevention, risk identification, observation and risk assessment to social and justice intervention perspective with the comment of specific social context and definitions of basic concepts. This review presents efforts for ensuring the best quality of protection of children and youth while at the same time protection of the community from unacceptable behaviour is also important. It is a very complex continuum of interventions with numerous qualities (gradation, decentralization, diversity etc.) and weaknesses (lack of cooperation between institutions for children and youth, insufficient standardization of certain professional activities, disparate access to interventions in some parts of the country etc.). Due to that, author presents possible directions in further development of this system.