Your child has been referred to Halt

Criminal Law in the Netherlands.

Your child will receive a Halt referral. Together with appropriate legal assistance, review what the proposal entails and what conditions apply. Halt is not automatically available for every first incident.

Discuss what consent means and what role the young person's statement plays. Don't let your child confess a false fact to get an easy settlement.

Read which assignments, conversations or other agreements are required. Ask what positive completion is required and how the young person will receive support. Discuss problems with school, care or planning in a timely manner.

Help your child understand questions and keep track of appointments. Do not invent memories or rehearse a shared story. The young person's own understanding and position remain central.

Police registration and judicial documentation are different files. Ask what consequences the referral and successful completion have. Do not use the general assumption that nothing remains recorded anywhere.

Check whether all appointments have been carried out and how positive completion is confirmed. If something doesn't work, report it immediately. Don't wait until a missed appointment or assignment leads to further problems.

Read the full explanation on the Criminal Law in the Netherlands website.