Diversion in youth justice is a subject of enduring interest. It concerns the processes by which decisions are made about whether or not to prosecute young offenders, and this book explores the continuing debates and historical developments which shape these processes. The treatment of young offenders is a contentious subject, and this book provides a comprehensive review of out of court decision-making in the context of wider arguments about how we should deal with the crimes of the young. This book follows a broadly historical structure, exploring the development of ideas and approaches to agency decision-making at the point of prosecution. This leads to the identification of a number of distinctive ‘models’ of diversion, reflecting both specific periods of time and particular philosophies of intervention with young people in trouble with the law. Based on this classification, this book explores the implications for wider debates about childhood, crime and punishment and how these relate to theories of social control. This, in turn, leads to the conclusion that diversionary ideas and practices act as a kind of barometer for wider developments in the governance of youth. This is one of the very few books that focuses exclusively on diversion as a feature of youth justice, and it provides a range of original and contemporary insights into this subject area which remains of considerable interest in this field, both academically and in practice. The ideas outlined here will contribute to new thinking in youth criminology, as the discipline responds to a prolonged period of apparent liberalisation in the treatment of young offenders which has yet to be fully understood or properly theorised.

The exciting new edition of this well-loved textbook offers a fully expanded and revised account and analysis of the youth justice system in the UK, taking into account and fully addressing the significant changes that have taken place since the second edition in 2007. The book maintains its critical analysis of the underlying assumptions and ideas behind youth justice, as well as its policy and practice, laying bare the inadequacies, inconsistencies and injustices of practice in the UK. This edition will offer an important update in light of intervening changes, as reflected in a change of government and shifting patterns of interventions and outcomes. This book will be an important resource for youth justice practitioners and will also be essential to students taking courses in youth crime and youth justice.

This book examines youth justice in a UK and international context, while drawing on the author's experience in Scotland to highlight the challenge facing all jurisdictions in balancing welfare and justice. It explores the impact of political ideas and influences on both the structural and practical challenges of delivering youth justice and practice initiatives including early intervention, restorative justice, structured risk assessments, intensive supervision, maintaining change over time, and practice evaluation. The theoretical framework draws on social learning theory and the tradition of socio-education/social pedagogy as reflected in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is the only book to focus specifically on the application of evidence to service delivery within youth justice. It will be an essential text for social work students undertaking university-based modules or practice-based learning in services which address youth crime and youth justice, as well as other students interested in the application of criminology and youth justice principles. It will also be valuable for practitioners involved in delivering youth justice services, including those on post-qualifying social work training courses.

Providing a comprehensive and up-to-date review of research and the implications for practice, the second edition of Effective Practice in Youth Justice considers core areas of youth justice practice, such as how to engage young people effectively within the context of recent changes to the youth justice system brought about by the introduction of the scaled approach and the Youth Rehabilitation Order. It also provides an overview of the available research in specific areas of practice, including assessment; planning interventions and supervision; mental health; substance misuse; restorative justice; education, training and employment; and custody and resettlement. The content has been specifically developed to meet the needs of students taking Youth Justice Board (YJB) sponsored courses with the Open University and is required reading for many of these. The book is also an essential resource for professionals working within the youth justice system, those training to work in youth justice, and students taking courses in youth justice or related subjects.

Structured around the National Occupational Standards, this book takes a practical approach to youth justice within social work programmes, focusing on social work in a multi-agency, multi disciplinary youth offending team. Using case studies and research, this text helps readers to develop skills that support youth justice, as well as to understand debates in youth justice policy and practice, including the competing issues of welfare and justice. It is suitable for those on the social work degree as well as criminology and criminal justice students hoping to understand social work practice in a youth justice context.

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of assessment and intervention planning with young people who offend. It will help equip practitioners with the knowledge and professional skills central to these critically important tasks. The context for practice is changing rapidly and the authors take into account current policy developments along with a wide range of literature on assessment practice in criminal justice and social care. The book encourages readers to think critically and to take practical steps to enhance their own practice. It will be important reading for anyone working with young people who offend.

Providing in-depth insight into different types of knowledge and skills partnerships in youth justice, this book illustrates the importance of collaborative working between academics and professionals, drawing on empirical research and practice examples to present expert analysis of knowledge/evidence production and utilisation in youth justice. Original and cutting edge, the focus of this edited collection is on different forms of knowledge exchange (transfer) between professionals and academics in the youth justice context. Authored by experts in the field, each chapter presents a series of case studies showcasing the application of theory/evidence to practice, and shedding light on the challenges professionals experience when seeking to understand complex theory and ‘make sense’ of the vast array of empirical data. Knowledge and Skills Partnerships in Youth Justice will appeal to students researching youth justice and criminal justice systems. The book will also be useful for practitioners of youth justice, as well as policymakers.