Social Justice for Young People in the Youth Justice System

2017 ◽  
pp. 186-195
Author(s):  
Donald Baker
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Youth Justice

scholarly journals Holding the Child (and Practitioner) in Mind? Youth Justice Practitioners’ Experiences Supervising Young People Displaying Sexually Harmful Behavior

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 2055-2081 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Myles-Wright ◽  
Claire Nee
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Vulnerable Group ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Relationship Problem ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Harmful Behavior ◽  
Future Practice

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of youth justice practitioners supervising young people (below 18 years old) displaying sexually harmful behavior within the Youth Justice System (YJS) in the United Kingdom, as little is currently known about the challenges faced when working with this vulnerable group. Five practitioners from two Youth Offending Services (YOS) participated in individual semistructured interviews, which were subjected to thematic analysis while also analyzing the performative function of language used. The analysis identified an overarching theme of “systemic unease,” which contained two subthemes surrounding “unease with the self, and wider YOS personnel” and “unease working with partner agencies.” The findings illuminate critical issues regarding future practice with this underresearched group of young people within the broader context of youth justice, which require further exploration and investigation. The “dual relationship problem” involving tension between risk management and therapeutic alliance is explored in relation to this group. The moral acquaintance model and the model of dynamic adaptation are suggested as helpful approaches to support practitioners and multi-agency professionals going forward in this area.

scholarly journals Drug-Related Deaths Among Young People Involved in The Criminal Justice System: A Whole-Population Multi-Sectoral Data Linkage Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse T Young ◽  
Holly Tibble ◽  
Rohan Borschmann ◽  
Stuart A Kinner
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Young Person ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
Community Treatment ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
System A

IntroductionDrug-related death is substantially higher in formerly incarcerated adults compared to the general population. Despite this, remarkably little is known about the epidemiology of drug-related death among justice-involved adolescents. A richer understanding of drug-related mortality in justice-involved young people is essential for the development of effective, evidence-based interventions for this vulnerable group. Objectives and ApproachIn a whole-population cohort of justice-involved young people in Queensland, Australia, we aimed to: 1) calculate the rate of drug-related death overall, and separately by intent and drug category; and 2) estimate the probability, and identify the predictors of, drug-related death. We probabilistically linked Youth Justice Queensland and National Death Index (NDI) records for every young person who came into contact with the youth justice system in Queensland between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2014 (N=48,963). The NDI provided death data until 31 December 2017. Crude mortality rates (CMR) were calculatedoverall, separately by intent, and by prescribed versus illicit drug cause. Competing risk survival analysis will be conducted. ResultsOf the 48,963 individuals, 1452 (3%) died by 31 December 2017. Of these, 204 (14%) deaths were due to drugs, yielding a CMR of 31 (95%CI:27-36) per 100,000 person-years. Most drug-related deaths were recorded as intentional (CMR=28; 95%CI:24-33 per 100,000 person-years) and deaths from prescribed medications were more common than illicit drugs (CMR=17; 95%CI:14-20 and CMR=11; 95%CI:9-14 per 100,000 person-years, respectively). Conclusion / ImplicationsRates of drug-related deaths following contact with the youth justice system are disproportionately high and represent a major public health concern. Our findings highlight the importance of initiation of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment upon contact with the youth justice system and continuous engagement with community treatment after discharge from the youth justice system. Evidenced-base prevention strategies and efforts to improve the continuity of care are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Diversion, Rights and Social Justice

Youth Justice ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 147322542090284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Smith
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Young People ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
The Other ◽  
Delinquent Behaviour ◽  
Justice Model ◽  
The One

This article draws on historical understandings and contemporary models of diversion in order to develop a critical framework and agenda for progressive practice. The argument essentially revolves around the contention that typically diversionary interventions have been constrained by the contextual and ideological frames within which they operate. They have in some cases been highly successful in reducing the numbers of young people being drawn into the formal criminal justice system; however, this has largely been achieved pragmatically, by way of an accommodation with the prevailing logic of penal practices. Young people have been diverted at least partly because they have been ascribed a lesser level of responsibility for their actions, whether by virtue of age or other factors to which their delinquent behaviour is attributed. This ultimately sets limits to diversion, on the one hand, and also offers additional legitimacy to the further criminalisation of those who are not successfully ‘diverted’, on the other. By contrast, the article concludes that a ‘social justice’ model of diversion must ground its arguments in principles of children’s rights and the values of inclusion and anti-oppressive practice.

scholarly journals Protecting the Best Interests of the Child: A Comparative Analysis of the Youth Justice Systems in Ireland, England and Scotland

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
International Law ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Offending Behaviour ◽  
Best Interest Principle

AbstractIn the Republic of Ireland the government has proposed amending the Irish Constitution in order to improve children's rights. In this article I will argue that the proposed amendment represents a serious diminution in the rights historically afforded to young people who offend, disregards Ireland's commitments under international law and also ignores the well established link between child maltreatment and youth offending. The Irish approach echoes developments in the English youth justice system where the welfare concerns of young people who offend have become marginalised. I will compare the Irish and English approaches with the Scottish youth justice system which looks beyond young people's offending behaviour and provides a multi-disciplinary assessment of the young person's welfare needs. I will conclude that in Ireland, and in England, the best interest principle must be applied fully, without any distinction and integrated in all law relevant to children including laws regulating anti-social and offending behaviour.

scholarly journals Justice system and juvenile deviance after the Covid-19 pandemic. Educational paths between school promotion and re-education

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-287
Author(s):  
Emanuela Guarcello ◽  
Giulia Gozzelino
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Young People ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Penal System ◽  
Educational Paths

Starting from the concept of social justice and from universal children’s rights (UN, 1989), the contribution questions the role of education in enhancing the originality and uniqueness of each one and in restoring responsibility and dignity to fragile (Milani, 2019), difficult (Bertolini ,1993) and deviant (Vico, 1988) young people. In a complex contemporaneity, tested by pandemic’s sufferings and restrictions, the pedagogical look underlines the importance of reconstructing – starting from school – promotional, capacitating and justice-oriented paths. Deviant acts are read in the light of a broad social responsibility. We propose the empowerment of an educating community (Agazzi, 1968) aimed at participation, dialogue (Freire, 2002) and assumption of an active and inclusive citizenship. The juvenile penal system is collectively rethought, favouring diversion from prosecution, mediation, reparation and probation strategies.   Giustizia e devianza minorile dopo la pandemia Covid-19. Percorsi alternativi tra promozione scolastica e rieducazione.   Partendo dal concetto di giustizia sociale e dai diritti universali delle bambine, dei bambini e degli adolescenti (UN, 1989), il contributo si interroga sul ruolo dell’educazione nel valorizzare l’originalità e l’unicità di ciascuno e nel restituire responsabilità e dignità ai soggetti fragili (Milani, 2019), difficili (Bertolini, 1993) e devianti (Vico, 1988). In una contemporaneità complessa, provata dalla sofferenza e dalle restrizioni della pandemia, lo sguardo pedagogico sottolinea l’importanza di ricostruire, a partire dalla scuola, percorsi promozionali, capacitanti e orientati alla giustizia. Si rileggono gli atti devianti alla luce di un’ampia responsabilità sociale e si propone l’empowerment di una comunità educante (Agazzi, 1968) volta alla partecipazione, al dialogo (Freire, 2002) e all’assunzione di una cittadinanza attiva e inclusiva per ripensare collettivamente il sistema penale minorile privilegiando deviazioni dall’accusa, strategie di mediazione, di riparazione e di messa alla prova.

scholarly journals Challenges to providing culturally sensitive drug interventions for black and Asian minority ethnic (BAME) groups within UK youth justice systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-181
Author(s):  
Helen Gleeson ◽  
Karen Duke ◽  
Betsy Thom
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Drug Interventions ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
Minority Ethnic

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how substance use practitioners intervene with ethnically and culturally diverse groups of young people in contact with the youth justice system. Design/methodology/approach Telephone, face-to-face interviews and a focus group were conducted. Data were analysed thematically using a frame-reflective theoretical approach. Findings Practitioners tended to offer individualised interventions to young people in place of culturally specific approaches partly due to a lack of knowledge, training or understanding of diverse cultural needs, and for practical and resource reasons. Research limitations/implications Practitioners reject the official narrative of BAME youth in the justice system as dangerous and in need of control, viewing them instead as vulnerable and in need of support, but report they lack experience, and sufficient resources, in delivering interventions to diverse groups. Originality/value There is little information regarding how practitioners respond to diversity in their daily practice. This paper is an exploration of how diversity is framed and responded to in the context of youth substance use and criminal justice.

“Why Do We Ask Them About Their Gender, If We Then Go on to Do Nothing with It?”

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Eric Baumgartner
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Offending Behavior ◽  
Dominant Discourses

Boys and young men continue to make up 81 percent of the Youth Justice System (YJS) in England and Wales, yet dominant discourses on young people who have been identified as having offended largely neglect to examine the potential role of masculinity in offending and interventions. This article aims to fill the gap of research in this area by exploring the role masculinity may play as understood by practitioners. It concludes that practitioners closely link “localized forms of hegemonic masculinity” to offending behavior of boys and young men.

scholarly journals From the Mouths of Dragons: How Does the Resettlement of Young People from North Wales Measure Up … In Their Own Words?

Youth Justice ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy S. Hampson
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Current Practice ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
Personal Goals ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Strong Basis ◽  
North Wales

Young people in custody are likely to reoffend, questioning current resettlement practice. In Wales, the Resettlement Broker Project was established to address this, beginning by assessing current practice. The ensuing data set of interviews with young people from North Wales serving sentence in England was analysed regarding custody and resettlement experiences. Resettlement and desistance literature provided a strong basis for effective working; the slowness of the English and Welsh youth justice system to truly incorporate desistance thinking means that these young people missed a potentially beneficial working ethos, centred on personal goals and individual strengths, indicating the need for radical change.

‘I was flying blind a wee bit’: Professionals’ perspectives on challenges facing communication assistance in the New Zealand youth justice system

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Howard ◽  
Clare McCann ◽  
Margaret Dudley
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Young People ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Youth Justice ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
Criminal Charges

Communication assistance is a form of specialist support for witnesses and defendants in justice settings who have been identified as having communication difficulties. This relatively new role in New Zealand is modelled on the role of the intermediary in England and Wales. This research provides a qualitative analysis of professionals’ perspectives (n = 28 participants) on the challenges of communication assistance for young people facing criminal charges in the New Zealand youth justice system. The findings of this study do not question whether or not communication assistance should exist, but rather how it might best function in practice. The overall implications are that more education and guidance for youth justice professionals is needed.

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