The Austrian-wide UNDER18 program, run by the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, aims to prevent youth crime through primary prevention efforts. Since its inception, it has reached approximately 128,000 pupils, parents, and teachers, with over 430 trained youth-prevention officers delivering the program.
The program is continually refined with input from internal staff and external experts, and youth-prevention officers receive standardized training on topics such as developmental psychology, violence, addiction, and communication. Despite its scale and potential, UNDER18 has not yet been empirically evaluated regarding its implementation, effectiveness, or reception by participants.
(Source: Report).
Host project: Bureau of Crime Prevention and Victim Support at the Federal Criminal Police Office / Federal Ministry of of Internal Affairs (BM.I).
Methodology
The planned study seeks to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive process and impact evaluation using both quantitative (nationwide surveys, quasi-experimental design) and qualitative (focus groups, interviews, workshops) methods. An electronic monitoring system will also be introduced to maintain program quality. The evaluation will consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including youth, prevention officers, school personnel, and parents, to assess and optimize the program’s effectiveness and justify its continued support.
Country or region of researched population
Austria
Citation
Zartler, U., & Atzmüller, C.
The Austrian-wide UNDER18 program, run by the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, aims to prevent youth crime through primary prevention efforts. Since its inception, it has reached approximately 128,000 pupils, parents, and teachers, with over 430 trained youth-prevention officers delivering the program.
The program is continually refined with input from internal staff and external experts, and youth-prevention officers receive standardized training on topics such as developmental psychology, violence, addiction, and communication. Despite its scale and potential, UNDER18 has not yet been empirically evaluated regarding its implementation, effectiveness, or reception by participants.
(Source: Report).
Host project: Bureau of Crime Prevention and Victim Support at the Federal Criminal Police Office / Federal Ministry of of Internal Affairs (BM.I).
Methodology
The planned study seeks to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive process and impact evaluation using both quantitative (nationwide surveys, quasi-experimental design) and qualitative (focus groups, interviews, workshops) methods. An electronic monitoring system will also be introduced to maintain program quality. The evaluation will consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including youth, prevention officers, school personnel, and parents, to assess and optimize the program’s effectiveness and justify its continued support.
Country or region of researched population
Austria
Citation
Zartler, U., & Atzmüller, C.
- youth involvement
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