NCJ Number
218048
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 311-330
Date Published
March 2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the extent to which the British Government's declared intentions to unite youth justice practice cultures around a common emphasis on preventing offending through early criminal justice intervention have been achieved in practice.
Abstract
Generally, the aims and objectives of the practitioners interviewed for this paper were too complex and fragmented to be labeled as "tough" or "punitive." There was a pervasive acceptance and support for the welfare and treatment of youth, so as to reduce their risk of reoffending. Still, there is a concern for public safety evidenced in the priority given to early interventions that will prevent an escalation in the severity and harms of youths' behavior. Such interventions may carry a punitive element, such as restriction of liberty and the structuring of disciplinary consequences for failure to comply with the conditions of an intervention. This paper uses data from interviews conducted in 2003-2004, so as to assess the impact on practice of the new youth justice reforms instituted in 2000-02. The practitioners interviewed were social workers involved in the work of Youth Offending Teams (YOTs), police officers working with YOTs, and lay magistrates involved in the work of YOTs. 114 notes and 35 references