Building Cultures of Participation: Involving Young People in Contact with the Criminal Justice System in the Development of Drug Interventions in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy and Poland

Abstract

This article explores the participation of young people in contact with criminal justice systems in the development of drugs interventions. Interviews were undertaken with 160 young people (aged 15–25) and 66 practitioners involved in the design, delivery and commissioning of drug interventions. We analyse the key challenges in involving young people in the development of interventions including structural, organisational and individual factors. We argue that these barriers can be overcome by fostering flexible models of participation and identifying the most meaningful and appropriate approaches for involving young people at different stages and in different initiatives which consider socio-cultural contexts.

Freedom From Symbolic Violence? Facilitators and Barriers to Participatory Practices in Youth Justice

“…(Baden,15,Referral Order) The quote from Baden is akin to a form of symbolic violence, 'accepting' a subordinate position (Bourdieu, 1977(Bourdieu, , 2019 by not sharing his views in this decision-making process. It is important in non-voluntary participation contexts that professionals provide explicit opportunities for involvement and views to be voiced and inform children how their perspectives and knowledge are of equal value, ensuring partnerships are built, with the voice of the child prioritised throughout intervention planning and supervision (Duke et al, 2022). The professionals tended to demonstrate an awareness of this, moving beyond notions of misrecognition (Bourdieu, 2020: 145), as they identified barriers within the process of referral order panels, but appeared to also be subject to symbolic power by not being able to transform the Referral Order panel process.…”

“…Mutual respect also plays a pivotal role in bolstering children’s participation, reducing passive compliance and increasing active participation. This type of relationship-focused practice is conducive to children’s meaningful participation (Duke et al, 2022). However, it was found that practice continued to be predominantly computer-based, interpreted by practitioners as overly focused on ‘getting everything on the system’ (Esme, YOT Officer).…”

Experiential peers cultivate a participation culture in youth justice

“…Although the YJS advocates on the behalf of justice-involved children to receive second chances post offending, expecting this value is followed by other services and organisations, they seemingly failed to uphold their commitment to their own cause. Inevitably marginalising a potential resource that evidence suggests could be vital for providing "hooks for change" and developing desistance in youth (McMahon and Jump, 2018), while also legitimising the YJS through participation and inclusion (Duke et al, 2021). This risk-driven culture may have lost sight of seeing the human element and communities that sits behind any assessed risk.…”

Rights of the Child in the Child Justice System

“…The value of the CRC to child justice research is evident from submissions to Youth Justice over the years, and it has become an increasingly important part of our editorial focus, given its potential to further internationalise the journal and connect diverse fields and issues through the common thread of children’s rights. In the last issue, for instance, articles on child justice reform in Vietnam (Dao and Dandurand, 2023) and on drug interventions across several jurisdictions (Duke et al, 2023) engaged with the CRC proved this point. Likewise, articles in this issue – on restorative justice (Marder and Forde, 2023) and sentencing (Duke et al, 2023) – benefit from a richer analysis through engaging with children’s rights standards.…”

“…In the last issue, for instance, articles on child justice reform in Vietnam (Dao and Dandurand, 2023) and on drug interventions across several jurisdictions (Duke et al, 2023) engaged with the CRC proved this point. Likewise, articles in this issue – on restorative justice (Marder and Forde, 2023) and sentencing (Duke et al, 2023) – benefit from a richer analysis through engaging with children’s rights standards. Our new International News section – to be launched in our next issue – will be important in this respect, and as editors, we look forward to seeing enhanced use of international children’s rights standards in submissions to the journal more generally.…”