Citation

Shaw J. Youth Justice 2016; 16(2): 147-161.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, National Association for Youth Justice, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1473225415617858

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The criminalisation of young people in response to children's residential, home-based challenging behaviour remains a persistent problem in the United Kingdom. This article presents research which, through a series of semi-structured interviews and a focus group with professionals from the care and youth justice systems, sought to gain insights into why this might be the case. It was concluded that there is a need to empower residential staff; bring greater objectivity into decision-making processes and raise awareness of how system contact can impact children's self-perception, and future prospects.

Language: en