The decision making process of juvenile judges concerning minors with(out) mental disorders: a review of literature

International research shows that minors with mental disorders are highly prevalent at the juvenile court. Despite this high prevalence, research on the decision making process of the juvenile court has seldom focused on this subgroup. Therefore, this PhD-research project focuses specifically on this subgroup and aims to gain insight into the decision making process of juvenile judges on minors with mental disorders. There are two phases in the research: a literature review and an empirical study (consisting of a file study, observation of hearings and interviews with juvenile judges) where decision making processes on this specific subgroup will be examined. In this paper, the literature study will be addressed in order to reveal what is already known about these decision making processes. First, some explanations for the lack of cumulative knowledge on this subject is given. Next, an overview of the studies examining the decision making process of juvenile judges on the entire juvenile court population and on the subgroup of minors with mental disorders is provided. It becomes clear that specific information on influential factors concerning the decision making process on minors with mental disorders is currently lacking. More specific research is therefore needed