scholarly journals Exploring how employment schemes for young offenders aid desistance from crime

2020 ◽  
pp. 026455051990023
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jayne Oswald

Criminological literature investigating the association between employment and desistance presents largely mixed findings. This article uses the Skill Mill employment scheme for young offenders as a case study to advance our understanding of how participating in work programmes can influence youth reoffending. Participant observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted with young attendees of the scheme and their supervisors. The findings suggest that employment schemes that offer remuneration, that influence how attendees are perceived by others, that encourage friendships between individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement and that employ supervisors who manage the dynamics of the work group and support young people to change can aid desistance.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1157-1157
Author(s):  
Becky Gius ◽  
Lauren F Fournier ◽  
Tea Reljic ◽  
Terri Pogoda ◽  
John Corrigan ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Examine factors associated with history of arrests and felony incarceration among Veterans and Service Members (V/SM) with combat exposure. Method Participants were V/SM who completed a baseline assessment for the multicenter Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium study (N = 1555). Most were male (87%), white (72%), with a mean age of 40 years (SD = 9.71). The majority (83%) reported a history of ≥1 mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), with thirty-five present of those experiencing 3+ mTBIs. Results Three groups were composed based on self-reported level of involvement with the criminal justice system: 1.) No history of arrests or incarcerations (65%), 2.) A lifetime history of arrest but no felony incarceration (32%), and 3.) A lifetime history of felony incarceration (3%). Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H tests revealed statistically significant differences between the groups in demographic factors including the incarcerated group having younger age, greater percentage of men, lower education, and greater percentage of never being married, followed by the arrest group and then the no arrest group (all p < 0.05). The incarcerated group also had the highest level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, lowest social support, and greatest percentage of hazardous alcohol consumption, followed by the arrest and then the no arrest groups (all p < 0.05). No differences were found between groups for mTBI history or neuropsychological testing results. Conclusions Correlates of legal involvement among V/SM span demographic and psychological dimensions. Some correlates are modifiable, including social support, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol consumption. Addressing these modifiable risk factors is critical to lower the risk of future criminal justice involvement.


2006 ◽  
Vol 188 (6) ◽  
pp. 541-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Barrett ◽  
Sarah Byford ◽  
Prathiba Chitsabesan ◽  
Cassandra Kenning

BackgroundThe full costs of accommodating and supporting young people in the criminal justice system are unknown. There is also concern about the level of mental health needs among young offenders and the provision of appropriate mental health services.AimsTo estimate the full cost of supporting young people in the criminal justice system in England and Wales and to examine the relationship between needs, service use and cost.MethodCross-sectional survey of 301 young offenders, 151 in custody and 150 in the community, conducted in six geographically representative areas of England and Wales.ResultsMental health service use was low despite high levels of need, particularly in the community Monthly costs were significantly higher among young people interviewed in secure facilities than in the community ($4645 v. $ 1863; P < 0.001). Younger age and a depressed mood were associated with greater costs.ConclusionsYoung people in the criminal justice system are a significant financial burden not only on that system but also on social services, health and education. The relationship between cost and depressed mood indicates a role for mental health services in supporting young offenders, particularly those in the community.


2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Goodwin-De Faria ◽  
Voula Marinos

Young people are entitled to the same legal rights as adults. However past research has questioned the extent to which youth effectively understand their rights and perceive that they can assert them when necessary because of their development and power differences vis-à-vis adult criminal justice professionals. Young people’s understanding of their due process rights under theCanadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsandUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Childwere examined. Participants were fifty adolescents ranging in age from 13-17 who received a diversionary response by the Crown prosecutor or were sentenced by the court to probation in a courthouse in Toronto, Ontario. Results of semi-structured interviews conducted with youth indicated that while age plays some role, the lack of power experienced by youth vis-à-vis criminal justice professionals has the most bearing on the inability of youth to exercise their rights. Implications of the study are discussed.


Author(s):  
Supaporn Chai-Arayalert ◽  
Supattra Puttinaovarat

This research focuses on the young people and an issue of national handicraft preservation in the form of southern style hand weaving. A game is used in the study on arts and cultures as a learning medium optimized for the young people who play an important role in preserving the traditional handicraft being at the verge of extinction. The “Exploring Na Muen Sri” was developed based on digital micro-game and Person-Artefact-Task model as well as the game production with the purpose of creating the learning media and a simulation containing new knowledge about hand-weaving art and history that is suitable for the young people. The case study was on the weaving history of Na Muen Sri Community located in the southern Thailand. An experiment was conducted with undergraduate students to explore the effectiveness of the proposed approach in the field of cultural study. The results show that the game can effectively enhance players’ cognitive growth along with cultural awareness. It can be concluded that the simulated learning environment created in the digital game enables to bring about comprehension supporting the lifelong learning of hand weaving art and history while simultaneously preserving the local wisdom of hand weaving of fabrics.


Muzealnictwo ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 117-126
Author(s):  
Helen Charman

In 2018 the Victoria and Albert Museum launched a capital project to transform the Museum of Childhood from a museum of the social and material history of childhood to a powerhouse of creativity for the young. This paper therefore takes the reinvention of the MoC as a case study to explore the process of change and the key drivers for inculcating and realising the transformed museum. In particular, the process of co-design with and for young people is considered as a mechanism for change in creating future facing museums that speak to the needs of young people in a rapidly changing and complex world.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Holmboe

The question of how the criminal justice system should deal with young offenders is an old one. Traditionally, the Norwegian criminal justice system has held that it should treat young offenders less severely than adults. The use of imprisonment is therefore restricted. In 2014, Norway implemented two new kinds of penal reactions directed towards young offenders, youth follow-up and youth punishment, inspired by the ideas underpinning restorative justice. The intention of youth punishment is that it is more severe but better suited than community sentencing when young people commit serious crimes. Consequently, the use of imprisonment for young offenders should be further reduced. In this article, I describe the rules concerning the sentencing and executing of youth punishment. Overall, I am of the opinion that while the premise underlying youth punishment is sound, the rules need to be amended to better reflect the expressed intent of the legislator.


Youth Justice ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-187
Author(s):  
Suzanne Ellis ◽  
Natalie Gately ◽  
Shane Rogers ◽  
Andrée Horrigan

Public opinion is often reported as punitive towards sentencing young people. Attitudes remain important to investigate given their potential to influence policy within the criminal justice system. Therefore, it is important to understand the formation of these attitudes and their consistency with sentencing principles. Semi-structured interviews ( n = 72) and surveys ( n = 502) were used to gauge opinions of sentencing young people under different scenario manipulations (age, weapon, drug treatment, prior record). The findings revealed the public expected punishment, but favoured rehabilitation with an opportunity to repent, suggesting the public are open to alternatives to ‘tough on crime’ approaches.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Campbell ◽  
Stephen Abbott ◽  
Alan Simpson

Purpose – Disproportionately high numbers of young people in the British criminal justice system also have mental health problems. Relevant services often struggle to meet such complex needs, particularly as children become adults. The purpose of this paper is to discover the qualities of services valued by such young offenders. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews with 15 young offenders with mental health problems. Findings – The young people valued continuity and sufficient time to develop trust in staff. From staff who showed concern and respect, and whose approach was informal, young people could accept help, advice and, when necessary, confrontation. They gained insight into themselves and how to modify their behaviour; knowledge about opportunities for work and education; and help with life skills. Research limitations/implications – The sample was small and likely to have been skewed towards those who are readiest to engage with services. Young people's views were not compared with their histories or actual service use. Practical implications – Other research indicates that helping relationships that demonstrate the qualities that client's value have more successful outcomes than those primarily reflecting professionals’ values. In a time of resource constraints, it seems unlikely that staff will be able to provide more contact and continuity than at present. This would be a precondition of working in accordance with the values of the young people reported here, especially when bridging the discontinuities between children's and adult services. Originality/value – Young offenders with mental health problems are rarely given a voice, particularly their views of what helps them.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 2644-2653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eren Youmans ◽  
James Burch ◽  
Robert Moran ◽  
Lillian Smith ◽  
Wayne A. Duffus

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