Synopses & Reviews
Alongside the current media public preoccupation with high-risk offenders, there has been a shift towards a greater focus on risk and public protection in UK criminal justice policy. Much of the academic debate has centered on the impact of the risk paradigm on adult offender management services; less attention has been given to the arena of youth justice and young adults. Yet, there are critical questions for both theory - are the principles of risk management the same when working with young people? - and practice - how can practitioners respond to those young people who cause serious harm to others? - that need to be considered.The distinguished contributors to "Young people and 'risk'" consider risk not only in terms of public protection but also in terms of young people's own vulnerability to being harmed (either by others or through self-inflicted behaviour). One of the report's key objectives is to explore the links between these two distinct, but related, aspects of risk. Maggie Blyth is a member of the Parole Board for England and Wales and independent chair of Nottingham City Youth Offending Team. She also works independently as a criminal justice consultant. Kerry Baker is a researcher in the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and also a consultant to the Youth Justice Board on issues of assessment, risk and public protection. Enver Solomon is Deputy Director of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, an independent charity affiliated to the Law School at King's College London.
Synopsis
Balancing complex needs against managing risk is a preoccupation for agencies working with children and young adults who offend. The UK's National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has adopted a public protection approach to its management of adult offenders. It is less obvious how to develop a risk management strategy for young people that sits within wider issues of meeting their needs and safeguarding their rights. This volume is the first critical look at the different aspects of risk in work with young people who offend. Despite the growth of public protection material, little attention has been given to youth justice and young adults. There are critical questions for both theory and practice in how the challenges presented by those young people who cause serious harm are dealt with, and how policy makers respond to increasing pressure from the public and media towards anti-social behavior and young people. Young People and 'Risk' considers definitions of risk management in work
Synopsis
Alongside the current media public preoccupation with high risk offenders, there has been a shift towards a greater focus on risk and public protection in UK criminal justice policy. This report draws together a distinguished panel to critically consider both the theory and application of the risk concept in work with young people and young adults that offend, both in terms of public protection and of young people's own vulnerability to being harmed.
About the Author
Maggie Blyth is the independent chair of the Kent Safeguarding Children Board.
Enver Solomon is director of policy and public affairs at the Children’s Society.
Table of Contents
Introduction - Enver Solomon and Maggie Blyth
Risk assessment and risk management: the right approach? - Hazel Kemshall
Risk in practice: systems and practitioner judgement - Kerry Baker
Young people and violence: balancing public protection and meeting needs - Gwyneth Boswell
Mental health, risk and antisocial behaviour in young offenders: challenges and opportunities - Sue Bailey, Robert Vermeiren and Paul Mitchell
Serious incidents in the Youth Justice System: management and accountability - Maggie Blyth
Working with young people in a culture of public protection - Mike Nash
Never too early?: reflections on research and interventions for early developmental prevention of serious harm - Ros Burnett
End note - Rob Allen