Citation

Pösö T, Kitinoja M, Kekoni T. Youth Justice 2010; 10(3): 245-257.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, National Association for Youth Justice, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1473225410381687

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The article studies the practice of one special form of closed accommodation: special care. The term suggests that this is a welfare-oriented response to norm-breaking behaviour of young people. The empirical example comes from Finland, where special care is defined as restrictive activity under the Child Welfare Act and aimed at, among other things, interrupting a vicious circle of crime in young people for the best interests of the child. A contradictory picture is drawn of special care. The article suggests that the contradictions should be understood — but not necessarily accepted — within the social context in which the institutional placements take place.