Abstract
A core aim of the Scottish youth justice system since the Kilbrandon report (1963) has been to reduce the stigmatisation and criminalisation of children and young people due to the strong link between needs and deeds (McAra and McVie, 2014). Due to our understanding that those over-represented in the justice system are the most vulnerable in society and typically from the poorest areas, Scotland works on a ‘maximum diversion–minimum intervention’ approach (see Bywaters, 2020 for discussion regarding inequalities and intervention).
This Insight provides practitioners with an overview of the current and developing youth justice policies, and a discussion of the proposed United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) incorporation into legislation in Scottish youth justice. Youth justice in Scotland is currently in a state of flux due to policy and legislative proposals and changes. This evidence summary also captures the changes that have been and are occurring, and outlines some implications for practice.
There are four main parts to this Insight. The first three summarise policy and legislative changes before closing with discussion of the implications on practice of these current and ongoing developments:
The changing context of youth justice in Scotland
Post-pandemic policy and legislation
The UNCRC and its incorporation into Scottish youth justice
Policy and practice implications
Conceptualising how these changes influence practice is important for any practitioner who engages with children and young people in Scotland; the changes represent a fundamental reframing of how we view children and young people. In addition to policy and practice shifts, there needs to be cultural change to enable us to be rights-respecting. This Insight also seeks to raise practitioner awareness of the legislative and policy shifts towards rights-respecting justice in Scotland.
This Insight provides practitioners with an overview of the current and developing youth justice policies, and a discussion of the proposed United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) incorporation into legislation in Scottish youth justice. Youth justice in Scotland is currently in a state of flux due to policy and legislative proposals and changes. This evidence summary also captures the changes that have been and are occurring, and outlines some implications for practice.
There are four main parts to this Insight. The first three summarise policy and legislative changes before closing with discussion of the implications on practice of these current and ongoing developments:
The changing context of youth justice in Scotland
Post-pandemic policy and legislation
The UNCRC and its incorporation into Scottish youth justice
Policy and practice implications
Conceptualising how these changes influence practice is important for any practitioner who engages with children and young people in Scotland; the changes represent a fundamental reframing of how we view children and young people. In addition to policy and practice shifts, there needs to be cultural change to enable us to be rights-respecting. This Insight also seeks to raise practitioner awareness of the legislative and policy shifts towards rights-respecting justice in Scotland.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Glasgow |
Publisher | The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services |
Number of pages | 19 |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2023 |
Publication series
Name | Insights |
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Publisher | The Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services |
No. | 71 |