Children First Justice: An Agenda for Change

• In Event: Understanding the Treatment of Justice-Involved Youth in Canada and the United Kingdom

Abstract

The Children First model of positive youth (juvenile) justice evolves contemporary policies and practices beyond their current risk focus by promoting a principled, progressive and practical approach to the treatment of children in the Youth Justice System. The measurement, assessment and amelioration of the risk children present to themselves and others underpins and drives contemporary youth justice processes in the UK and internationally. However, the utility of the risk paradigm has been over-stated, it is insufficient in its evidence-base and it is anathema to evolved, rights-compliant responses to children who offend.
The Children First model is a modern, economic-normative paradigm founded on guiding principles for positive youth justice practice – child-friendly, rights-focused treatment, diversion, inclusionary prevention, participation and engagement, legitimacy, the promotion of positive behaviour and outcomes, evidence-based partnership, systems management and the responsibilisation of adults. Children First constitutes a blueprint for a distinctive, principled, progressive approach to working with children; one that has been adopted and adapted by local authority areas throughout England and Wales, and internationally. The evolution, trajectory and practical realisation of Children First in England and Wales will be discussed and animated with evidence from a twenty-year programme of research.

Author

• Steve Case, Loughborough University, UK