Wider research
Part of YJB’s statutory function is to ‘identify, make known and promote good practice’. This section provides a ‘living’ collection of evidence and research across the wider youth justice landscape. The aim is to disseminate information about the wider evidence base that exists in order to maximise positive outcomes for children who come into contact with the justice system.
It includes specific accessible research relevant to youth justice such as risk factors as well as systematic evidence reviews of specific areas. Links to the latest research in key areas of youth justice are included.
The YJB welcomes new additions to ‘Wider Research’. Please email papers to effectivepractice@yjb.gov.uk along with your rationale for inclusion.
Summary: A series of three briefings on social media by Youth Justice Board. The Youth Justice Board has produced a series of three briefings on social media, in response to requests from practitioners for more information in this area. The first, entitled The use of the internet and social media by young people provides background and context, focussing…
This briefing provides information to youth justice practitioners on family interventions. It was produced by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) in response to requests from practitioners for more information in this area. The briefing starts by reviewing family-based protective factors and then risk factors. It then summarises a number of family and parenting interventions that have…
Summary: Briefing on working with children who have experienced trauma in the youth justice system. This briefing provides information to youth justice practitioners on trauma informed practice. It was produced by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales (YJB) in response to requests from practitioners for more information in this area. This briefing is about trauma-informed practice…
Summary: A paper around the neglect of girls in care who come into conflict with the law, arguing that a gender-neutral approach in this area risks further marginalising this population. What do we Know About Girls in the Care and Criminal Justice Systems? Is a paper that examines the limited evidence on females in care who come into…
Summary: An article concerned with the over-representation and mistreatment of care leavers in the Criminal Justice System. The Neglected Needs of Care Leavers in the Criminal Justice System: Practitioners’ Perspectives and the Persistence of Problem (Corporate) Parenting is an article concerned with the over-representation and mistreatment of care leavers in the Criminal Justice System. It draws upon a…
Summary: This briefing summarises evidence around what prevents youth crime and includes practise examples. The Prevention briefing attached, looks at what the research evidence tell us about working with children at risk of offending. This is work carried out with children on the cusp of offending, or who have committed a low-level offence and been diverted from the…
Summary: Research examining the impact of children' s speech, language and communication needs on restorative justice interventions. Children with communication difficulties face problems engaging with Youth Justice Services. This study set out to examine how the speech language and communication needs of children affect the restorative justice process in the context of referral orders. To do this Gabriella…
The Victims’ Commissioner has published, What works in supporting victims of crime. A rapid evidence assessment. The aim of the assessment is to collate the international evidence on what works in supporting victims and to evaluate the strength of that evidence, as well as to identify any gaps in the literature that could be addressed through further research. The evidence…
Summary: An international review of literature relating to the impact and delivery of youth justice supervision, programmes and interventions. What works in managing young people who offend? A summary of the international evidence was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and considers international literature concerning the management of children who have offended. It was produced to inform youth…
Summary: The experiences of those children that contacted Childline about bullying in 2015/16 published by NSPCC. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) have published What children are telling us about bullying. The report outlines the issues that children consider to be their most pressing concerns raised in counselling sessions.
Summary: Link to document and tables about understanding the educational background, characteristics and needs of children sentenced in 2014. The Ministry of Justice and Department for Education have published a report that presents initial findings from a major data sharing project to further understand the educational background of young people in the Youth Justice System in 2014. The…
Summary: Link to document examining the extent of neglectful parenting of teenagers in homes published by The Children's Society. The Children’s Society has published the report Understanding Adolescent Neglect: Troubled Teens. A study of the links between parenting and adolescent neglect. The study is based on a survey of around 1,000 students in Year 10 (14–15 year olds).…