Cultural Perspectives on Youth Justice

"Arnull and Fox's exploration of theoretical, policy and international perspectives provides a contemporary, timely and original contribution to the developing body of knowledge concerning the youth justice discipline. With the current ascending focus on internationalisation within the social sciences, this text draws together globalised standpoints regarding youth crime and youth justice in a changing world, one which examines in compelling detail comparative criminology from previously under-researched countries within their respective historical contexts. Aspects of 'best practice' are revealed in the most unexpected of locations and policy-makers would be hard-pressed not to take note. Transcending the fields of youth justice, social work, probation, sociology and criminology, this text is an invaluable resource for academics, students and practitioners alike." (Vicky Palmer, Senior Lecturer/Course Leader - BA (Hons) Youth Justice, Nottingham Trent University, UK)

Young people, crime and delinquency are words that are commonly linked in public perception and young people are often blamed for social ills. Their deviancy and threat to social control has been held to be a social fact from Plato to today. This book subjects that ‘fact’ to critical examination through consideration of youth justice systems in six different countries, drawing on sociological and criminological analysis as well as expert practitioner opinion.
This book's comparative, cultural approach allows for consideration of the impact of new and emergent systems of communication and discourse and considers how these may impact future constructions of delinquency at a local and global level. Understanding changing constructions of delinquency, the systems and responses we already have and their strengths and weaknesses enables critique about what we do and what we know, and allows us to imagine how it might be otherwise.