Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to
examine the discourses of risk, prevention
and early intervention, with particular
reference, the treatment of girls in the
contemporary Youth Justice System.
Design: The paper has two broad
objectives: firstly, the paper reviews the
literature on early intervention and youth
crime prevention policy. Secondly, the
paper focuses on youth justice practice in
relation to girls who are engaged in youth
justice processes or “at risk” of criminal
involvement.
Findings: The paper argues that: girls are
drawn into the system for welfare rather
than crime-related matters; and youth
justice policy and practice seems to negate
girls’ gender-specific needs. Moreover, the
paper highlights research evidence and
practice-based experience, and contends
that youth justice policy and practice must
be re-developed in favour of incorporating
gender-specific, child and young person
centred practices.
Value: The results presented in this article
will be particularly pertinent to policy
makers, educators and practitioners in the
sphere of youth justice, especially since the
contemporary youth justice system, in its
rigorous, actuarial pursuance of risk
management, fails to distinguish between
“gender” within its formulaic assessment
documentation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 111-120 |
Journal | Safer Communities |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 30 Apr 2012 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 30 Apr 2012 |