New Pathways for Prevention, Safety and Reintegration
For a Equitable Future for Youth
In collaboration with YEP (Youth Empowerment Participation), Richtungswechsel has launched the project Youth Justice Futures, which started in September 2026. The project is based on a participatory process that aims to develop a youth-centred prototype for the prevention of youth delinquency. Rather than developing prevention measures for young people, we want to work together with those affected to find solutions.
With Youth Justice Futures, we give a voice to juveniles and young adults who have come in conflict with the law, either personally or through their surroundings, and place their experiential knowledge at the centre.
Over a period of 15 months, we will work together with adolescents and young adults (aged 14–25) and youth work professionals to develop an innovative approach. We aim to create sustainable future prospects for young people in order to reduce the potential for conflict, delinquency and reoffending among adolescents and young adults.
Our project is based on the YEP method, a structured participation process in which professionals who already have a trusting, direct connection to young people are trained as multipliers. As multipliers, they can gather young people’s experiences, concerns and ideas and, building on these, conduct conversations and/or focus groups.
This takes place in two phases:
Phase 1: November to December 2026
Focus: Problem analyses
Phase 2: January to February 2027
Fokus: Problem solving
Based on the insights gained, two facilitated co-creation events will subsequently take place, where those affected and experts can work together to develop concrete solutions. Throughout the process, young people themselves will have a say in which of these ideas are pursued. Building on this, a prototype will be developed and then tested together with youth.
In the final project step, the results will be systematically evaluated and summarized in the Youth Justice Futures Report. This report will contain specific recommendations for action, that are intended to serve decision-makers as a well-founded basis for future measures.
In collaboration with:
YEP – Youth Empowerment Participation
This project is funded by the funding organisation Richtungswechsel – Association for the Promotion of the Reintegration of Offenders – and by the FFG (www.ffg.at)
