‘It’s Just Pure Harassment... As If It’s a Crime to Walk in the Street’: Anti-social Behaviour, Youth Justice and Citizenship — The Reality for Young Men in the East End of Glasgow

Abstract

The concern about anti-social youth is on the increase globally, as are the range of available sanctions. This article explores the nature of current youth justice strategies in western societies and draws upon a qualitative analysis of the experiences of 20 young men from deprived communities in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. It explores the way in which the recent preoccupation with anti-social behaviour, gang culture and punitive interventions has impacted on these young males. The article illustrates the negative impact of the young men’s marginalization on their sense of citizenship and human rights, and makes recommendations for the future.