Children and young people’s understandings and experiences of ‘family’ have largely been ignored in research that concerns them. This article reports the findings from research that was generated in collaboration with young people who have offended to understand how they conceptualise the term ‘family’. Key themes that were drawn from the research identified that the young people placed more emphasis on the emotional aspects of ‘family life’ than on the presence of specific ‘family members’. The focus group discussions centred around the importance of love, trust and safety, in determining who should be considered ‘family’. The language used by the young people was largely based on their own personal experiences of ‘family’ and ‘family life’, which for some of the young people, was significantly affected by their time spent in the care system.

The risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model is widely used to understand criminal behavior and guide interventions to reduce recidivism. However, its implementation in China’s juvenile justice system has not been extensively explored. This research critically examines China’s adaptation of the RNR model, noting differences from the original framework. While China emphasizes rehabilitation, its juvenile justice system prioritizes stability and risk prevention. By employing participant observation, interviews, and document analysis, this study suggests that China’s selective adaptation of the RNR model supports rehabilitation rhetoric in juvenile justice while maintaining the state’s role in risk management and promoting social stability.

The development of a trauma-informed Scotland is an ambitious and important agenda, but not without its challenges and limitations. In restrictive settings that rely on the application of power and control as part of their modus operandi, genuinely trauma-informed practice may be difficult to achieve. Drawing on interviews with 11 children, this article maps their experiences of police custody to trauma-informed practice principles. The gap between the espoused policies and the realities of custom and practice outlines the boundaries of trauma-informed practice in justice settings. The article concludes that police custody is antithetical to the concept of trauma-informed practice.

The ongoing debate over the immigration–crime nexus has continued to attract a wide range of research efforts in the criminal justice field. To build on these initiatives, this study not only examines the relationship between immigrants and adolescent crime but also explores attributes derived from containment effects that may contribute to or shield individuals from deviant behavior in America. Results showed that both immigrant and native-born adolescents share similar external attributes rather than internal traits that affect delinquency. For instance, inherent immigration status and identity is relatively more influential on self-reported substance problems among immigrant youth compared to their native-born counterparts. Interestingly, among external attributes, immigrant and native-born adolescents are responsive to legitimate opportunity and neighborhood order in different ways which thrust them into different deviant pathways.

Young First Nations Australians typically distrust and are reluctant to cooperate with the police. This article discusses data from a pilot intervention programme regarding First Nations young people’s involvement in car theft and joyriding. We conducted seven in-depth interviews with young Australians – most of whom identified as First Nations Australians – and six key community stakeholders who helped to deliver the programme. Our findings indicate that both sample groups held negative and distrusting perceptions of the police which, for the young people, were often precipitated by perceived discriminatory and procedurally unjust encounters with the police. We argue that heavy-handed and discriminatory policing of young First Nations Australians may perpetuate youth offending and joyriding behaviours among this group. The article argues that the police should adopt more community-oriented policing approaches to build trust with young First Nations Australians.

Juvenile justice systems across the United States have a common history of rehabilitative ideals and federally required due process protections; however, each state maintains goals for its juvenile justice system specific to that state. The goals stated in the purpose clauses of the states’ juvenile justice codes offer an evaluative opportunity to determine whether the policies, programs, and practices within the juvenile justice system are congruent with the statutory goals. The qualitative thematic analysis of state purpose clauses presented in this study reveals goals beyond the traditional conceptualizations of a rehabilitative juvenile justice system and constitutional due process protections. The multiple, overlapping goals of each state’s juvenile justice system invites stakeholders to conduct evaluations to determine the alignment of each state’s goals with the structure of its juvenile justice system.

When COVID-19 first hit the United States, juvenile correctional facilities across the country discontinued all in-person activities including family visits. Correctional facilities across the country were among the last institutions to reopen their doors for in-person activities given the heightened risk of rapid spread. Drawing on data gathered in February and March 2022, this study examined the state of family visitation policies and COVID-19 safety responses adopted by juvenile correctional facilities, as reported on websites, including information on the different types of contact allowed; COVID-19 safety protocols and practices; availability of information on COVID-19 infection and vaccination rates; and the overall timeliness, consistency, and comprehensiveness of the information available to families with incarcerated minor children. Our findings highlight just how untimely, inconsistent, and incomprehensive information and policies were across jurisdictions, sometimes with little to no stated explanation for their decision-making. We argue that juvenile correctional facilities should take a family-focused approach when developing and disseminating policies that impact the lives of incarcerated youth and their families, especially in times of global uncertainty.