Disabling and Criminalising Systems? Understanding the Experiences and Challenges Facing Justice Experienced, Neurodiverse Children in the Education and Youth Justice Systems

Abstract

Children defined as ‘neurodiverse’ are over-represented in the English and Welsh criminal justice system, and face a number of challenges as they navigate their way through the education and youth justice systems. This paper will empirically examine this neglected area of criminal justice involvement in young lives. It argues that both the education and youth justice systems in England and Wales are disabling and criminalising through processes that, often unintentionally; label, stigmatise, isolate, neglect and harm neurodiverse children. Consideration will turn, in the concluding section of the paper, to what a ‘child first’ education and youth justice system would look like for neurodiverse children.