New edition of the Journal of Children's Services focuses on youth justice

In a guest editorial for the new edition of the Journal of Children's Services (6.2), Rod Morgan argues that scaling back criminal justice agencies combined with a lack of money for criminal justice intervention could actually be very positive in the long run.

This is in a context of huge uncertainty and gloom among youth justice workers. The axing of the Youth Justice Board and significant budget cuts are combining with a bleak outlook for young people as the number of unemployed 16-24 year olds approaches one million.
 
Morgan argues that despite many positive policies, the previous UK government was ‘tough on crime’ and not ‘the causes of crime’ as it claimed. The number of children criminalised and incarcerated soared. This was despite the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the enormous cost and overwhelming evidence that such actions actually increase the likelihood of re-offending.
 
The special edition on youth justice is based on the Independent Commission on Youth Justice report, “Time for a Fresh Start”, published nine months ago. It also advocates a smaller state and a bigger society when it comes to youth justice, for example with greater use of non-criminal controls such as the family, neighbourhood and school.
 
The special edition assembles a highly respected cast of commentators in the field to discuss questions arising from the report.