In search of a youth justice pedagogy? A commentary

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to look at youth justice (YJ) personnel training and education and the recommendations about it made in Time for a Fresh Start.

Design/methodology/approach

The pedagogic tensions that currently shape YJ training are described – particularly those around the question of instructionalism vs education and what “specialist” means in the context of YJ.

Findings

The paper suggests that the authors of Time for a Fresh Start missed the opportunity to better serve the public and young people's interests by neither acknowledging the pedagogic tensions nor articulating what a “specialist” “YJ” professional training can mean in twenty‐first century England and Wales.

Originality/value

The paper highlights an urgent need for an open debate between academics, practitioners and policy makers about YJ pedagogy.

Citation

Phoenix, J. (2011), "In search of a youth justice pedagogy? A commentary", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 125-133. https://doi.org/10.1108/17466661111149420