The initiative aims to identify children and young people who are particularly at risk of crime as early as possible and to prevent them from slipping into crime in the long term through individual, tailored responses and measures.

When selecting the target group, it is important to determine the type and extent of criminal offences and, in particular, to consider the living conditions of these children and young people, as problematic situations (so-called risk factors) can be significant causes for the emergence and development of manifest criminality.

In order to achieve these goals, the police work together with recognized youth welfare organizations (in the Bonn police department with update - Fachstelle für Suchtprävention von Caritas / Diakonie). 
They provide pedagogical specialists (PFK) by service contract, who have their office on the police premises and offer targeted support for children and young adolescents participating in the "Kurve kriegen" initiative. They provide individual and early help that has a long-term crime prevention effect. As part of "Kurve kriegen", the PFK can also incorporate offers and educational measures from local child and youth welfare services for the participants.

The main aim of the initiative is to prevent children and young people at high risk from falling into crime in the long term.

The initiative is open to children and young people aged 8-15 who have committed at least one violent offense or three property crimes and whose life circumstances are clearly burdened with risk factors. A special focus is placed on juveniles.

Participation in "Kurve kriegen" is voluntary and free of charge. The initiative is largely funded by the state of NRW.

The support period is planned for at least 1 year and can be extended several times by 6 months each time according to individual needs. It ends at the latest when the child reaches the age of 18.

The NRW initiative "Kurve kriegen" is successful and effective. This is clearly demonstrated by the process and impact evaluation by the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and the cost-benefit analysis by Prognos AG.

The results of Prognos AG with regard to delinquency prove that

• 40% of the graduates surveyed no longer commit any crimes. 
• the number of offenses committed by the remaining graduates could be reduced by 50%, in the area of bodily harm by as much as 75%.

By the time an active prolific offender reaches the age of 25, an average of 100 people become victims of their crimes.
According to Prognos AG, the economic costs caused by such a single offender between the ages of 14 and 25 amount to 1.7 million euros.
The results of Prognos AG regarding the cost-benefit ratio show that every euro invested in the initiative is offset by social follow-up costs (e.g. educational support, imprisonment, unemployment and lost revenue from unpaid taxes) amounting to three to ten euros.
(The extensive evaluation results can be found on the initiative's website.)

The "Kurve kriegen" initiative was included on the "Green List Prevention", the list of recommendations for evaluated prevention programs.

Note: 
Inquiries about possible inclusion in the initiative should be addressed to the crime prevention officers!