Care and the criminal justice system.

1
Care and the criminal justice system.

• Methodological issues and practical challenges.

2
Introduction to the project.

• Research will aim to investigate the factors at a
  micro, meso and macro level, which contribute to
  children and young people in residential care
  being over-represented in the criminal justice
  system, as well as the complex and contradictory
  relationship between the care and the youth
  justice systems.

3
The research questions.

• Research will address the following questions
• How do the current and past experiences of
  children and young people in residential care
  contribute to them getting into trouble?
• How do the professionals from relevant agencies
  respond when the children and young people get
  into trouble? What factors influence those
  responses?
• How does the overall policy framework relate to
  and influence the experiences of the children and
  young people in relation to offending behaviour?

4
Proposed research

• Case-study of local authority area, hereafter
  referred to as Youth Town.
• Case study strategy enable exploration of lines
  of influence upon the behaviour of the children
  and young people, taking into account
  individual-historical factors and current
  circumstances, policy and legislation.
• Policy study provide context to the case study
  material.

5
Proposed research

• Quantitative Retrospective study of patterns of
  offending by looked after young people in
  residential care, utilising Court records.
• Qualitative Case-file analysis. Interviews with
  children and young people, their key workers.
  Interviews with key representatives within
  criminal justice system. Focus groups.
• Different angle/perspective on the same course of
  events. Increases validity.
• Inductive and deductive-needs to retain
  flexibility to change direction.

6
Practical challenges.

• Access to records.
• Identifying which children and young people are
  in residential care.
• Contacts leaving post.
• Devising research tool.
• Being flexible.

7
Issues.

• Desirability of approaching children and young
  people to discuss potentially sensitive issues.
• Give a voice to the children and young people,
  with a view to learning from their experiences.
• Provide appropriate support.

8
Issues.

• Informed consent
• Requirements of research set out clearly
• Age appropriate language
• Free to withdraw participation at any time

9
Final thoughts...

• Which children and young people to select?
• Gaining access to children and young people.
• Safety net of respondents.