Youth Crime and Juvenile Justice

This three-volume set of original readings is designed to reveal how and why children and young people have been repeatedly the subject of adult concern, censure and intervention. It conceptualises notions of 'childhood', 'youth' and 'adolescence' whilst also tracing the complex history of adult intervention and juvenile justice.

This collection is particularly timely not only because of persistent concerns over 'out of control' youth but also because of an apparent hardening of adult reactions in many jurisdictions. Youth justice in the 21st century is designed to punish the offender whilst keeping their welfare paramount. It is at one and the same time about crime prevention and retribution. It makes claims for restoration and reintegration whilst seeking some of the most punitive measures of surveillance and containment in custodial and community settings.

In the 21st century discourses of protection, restoration, punishment, responsibility, rehabilitation, welfare, retribution, diversion, human rights and so on exist alongside each other in some perpetually uneasy and contradictory manner. Youth Crime and Juvenile Justice provides a lens through which to navigate this complex field.

Volume 1 - The Youth Problem

Outlines social constructions of childhood and youth and how these are intimately related to the origins of systems of juvenile justice.

Volume 2 - Juvenile Corrections

Explores the varied means of intervention and correction that currently make up the juvenile justice landscape in jurisdictions worldwide.

Volume 3 - Children's Rights and State Responsibilities

Examines the deprivations, injustices , abuses and lack of access to rights that routinely surround childhood and youth worldwide.

Each volume includes a substantive introduction from the editors. This collection comprehensively defines and maps out the fields of youth criminology and juvenile justice studies.