“FÄLTASSISTENTER - BOMULLEN I SAMHÄLLETS SPRICKOR” Praktikers uppfattningar om det förebyggande och uppsökande arbetet riktat mot unga i Kungsbacka kommun.

Abstract

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate practitioners view on possible preventive work among youth in Kungsbacka, Sweden. An empirical study was conducted, and the results can hopefully provide guidance to the city of Kungsbaka and advice on appropriate actions regarding the work with youths. The focus of this study was to identify if practitioners in Kungsbacka experience a need for more youth outreach work. The study also examined if outreach work would be an effective method and if there may be other applicable methodologies that would have the desired effect in curbing the statistics. Method and data: The empirical material consists of a survey conducted by the city of Kungsbacka, five interviews with Kungsbacka police employees and four expert interviews. The data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively to broaden the scope of understanding. Both descriptive statistics and chi tests were used to analyze the survey. The interviews were conducted with a semi structured interview plan. The theories used in the study to analyse outreach work is Social Bonding Theory and Situational Action Theory. Results: Practitioners in Kungsbacka wish to see more crime prevention and outreach work focusing on youth at risk. The practitioners encourage the application of outreach workers, whose main goal is to reach out to young people and build relations with them. Also, the police force wishes to work closely with outreach workers for the possibility of gaining better understanding of the problems that surrounds the youth. Furthermore, practitioners wish to see increased and improved collaboration and cooperation between all people involved with youth projects. This study is a first step in examining if outreach workers can provide the services that the practitioners in Kungsbacka requests. The study suggests that the outreach workers could lower the criminogenic exposure among youth by offering safe and constructive environments where youth and youth at risk can seek refuge. In conclusion, the majorities of practitioners included in the study are positive about the introduction of outreach workers and expresses a need for more adults to get involved in the lives of young people.