Violence Against Children in the Criminal Justice System

"Children and young people are routinely exposed to myriad forms of violence in criminal ‘justice’ systems around the world and those held in penal detention are especially vulnerable. This collection of essays both exposes such phenomena and charts ways in which it can be, and must be, addressed. The book makes a timely and important contribution to an evolving literature and it comprises an essential point of reference for researchers, advocates, policymakers and practitioners alike."

Professor Barry Goldson, Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology, The University of Liverpool, UK

"To put children behind bars not only subjects them to the risk of violence, it is itself a form of structural violence. If we wish to protect children against violence in the criminal justice system, we must reduce the practice of detention and imprisonment to the absolute minimum permitted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child: as a measure of last resort and, if really not avoidable, then only for the shortest appropriate period of time. Most importantly, children in conflict with the law should be diverted from the criminal justice to the child welfare system. The global perspectives on prevention outlined in the present book contain valuable evidence which will inform the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty and reaffirm my strong belief that we must strive at a society where no child is left behind bars."

Professor Manfred Nowak, University of Vienna and Global Campus of Human Rights Venice; Independent Expert leading the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty

"O’Brien & Foussard’s volume makes an important contribution of both societal and scientific relevance for the field of criminal justice in which, across the globe, many children suffer from violence and a denial of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The various chapters, written by leading authors from different parts of the world, provide diverse and enriching insights into how to prevent violence and secure humane treatment for all children in the criminal justice system."

Ton Liefaard, Vice-Dean and UNICEF Professor of Children’s Rights, Leiden Law School, Leiden University, The Netherlands.

"Featuring the insights of experts from various parts of the world, this volume illustrates the persistent challenges to realising children’s rights in the field of criminal justice. Collectively, the volume identifies the importance of: ending the needless criminalisation of very young children; ending violent and inhuman sentences; and ending violence within closed institutions. With a clarity that will appeal to specialists and non-specialists alike, this book presents rich insights into globally relevant violence prevention strategies such as diversion, restorative justice, reducing the use of pretrial detention, and ensuring therapeutic responses to child victims and children in conflict with the law.

As president of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, I warmly welcome this volume, and I wish the devoted editors a strong readership."

Justice Renate Winter, President of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, United Nations