Postscript—Progress and Challenges for Progressing Progressive Child First Youth Justice

Hazel, Neal; Case, Stephen

Abstract

Drawing on observations from throughout the Child First book, this final chapter considers both the progress of the Child First principle in the youth justice system in England and Wales and its challenges in moving forwards. Accepting that reforming policy and practice is a slow process, the chapter highlights the advancements made so far; it summarises the important steps towards its adoption as the evidence-based guiding principle for the sector and notable developments since. The chapter then presents the challenges remaining to embedding contemporary research understanding into the system as a whole, which do not sit with practitioners alone but also with academics and policymakers, including addressing bigger reform questions that it may prompt. Final thoughts are given to whether Child First can act as a 'bulwark' to a punitive turn and a blueprint internationally for progressive youth justice.

Citation

Hazel, N., & Case, S. (2023). Postscript—Progress and Challenges for Progressing Progressive Child First Youth Justice. In S. Case, & N. Hazel (Eds.), Child First: Developing a New Youth Justice System (367-385). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19272-2_13

• Acceptance Date: Feb 20, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 20, 2023
• Publication Date: Mar 20, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2023
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Pages: 367-385
• Book Title: Child First: Developing a New Youth Justice System
• Chapter Number: 13
• ISBN: 978-3-031-19271-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19272-2_13
• Keywords: Youth justice, juvenile justice, child first, policy reform