Young People and Social Control

"Young People and Social Control significantly deepens our understanding of the 'youth condition', not least because it is uniquely grounded in an astute exploration of the voices and experiences of the marginalised young. It is a standout text, not only for its fresh insights into an increasingly racialized 'deficit discourse,' but also for its more positive vision of how barriers between young people and agents of social control might begin to be broken down." (John Muncie, Emeritus Professor of Criminology, The Open University) "In this important new work, Deuchar and Bhopal seek to reverse the cycle of moral panic and reactionary policymaking. They give authentic voice to marginalised young people's concerns and fears regarding stigmatisation across a series of key life domains including schools and employment, but primarily the systems of criminal justice and crime control that are so closely associated with them." (Shadd Maruna, University of Manchester, UK)

This book explores young people’s experiences of social control and the state, especially those living at the margins of society within the UK.This book explores young people’s experiences of social control and the state, especially those living at the margins of society within the UK. In particular, the book focuses on disadvantaged young people’s experiences in education, in the labour market, with police and within the criminal justice system. It draws upon insights gathered by the authors in Scotland and England via in-depth interviews with, and observation of, young people in multiple settings and the barriers they come across in terms of justice, equity and inclusion. 
Deuchar and Bhopal present a range of creative and engaging case studies that illustrate where barriers have been broken down between young people and the agents of social control and elucidate upon how a sense of justice and inclusion has emerged. With its wide-ranging, multi-perspective approach, this study will be essential reading for scholars and students of sociology, criminology and youth studies, as well as holding appeal for policy-makers and practitioners.