Youth Justice

• • Setting the scene for youth justice: How do we 'value' young people? How do we respond to troubled and troublesome young people?
  • Criminological explanations of youth offending.
  • Advocacy and working with young people; Researching young people
  • Young women in the youth justice system.
  • Indigenous young people in the youth justice system.
  • Policing youth
  • Young people, public space and cyberspace
  • Crime prevention and program evaluation
  • Youth Justice: legislation and the court system
  • Diversion, sentencing and restorative approaches
  • Children and young people as victims of crime
  • International conventions and obligations

Equivalent subjects

You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:

• GRF-CCJ37-Youth Justice (No longer available)

Others

This is not an introductory subject, it is a third year subject. You should complete other first and second year criminology subjects before starting this subject. Students who have completed more than 2 OUA units (GPA 4.0+) and are planning on completing the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged to enrol in the degree. Part of this process will involve registering your study plan with Griffith University, which will help to ensure that you are studying the required units.

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

This subject explores the historical, sociological and criminological context of youth justice. This is a field that offers particular challenges for both criminal and social justice. Links are established between youth justice and the various agencies established to work with the young. Particular attention is given to the skills, knowledge and interpersonal strategies required to work with and support young people in the criminal justice field. Consideration is given to legislation governing approaches to young people and crime.

Youth justice is an area of the criminal justice system that has experienced considerable change and upheaval in recent years - although some might claim that such changes are more apparent than real. Nevertheless, it does seem that much of the theory and practice of ‘diversionary’ and ‘restorative’ approaches which are being introduced across the broad field of criminal justice, initially have grown out of critical concerns about the treatment and welfare of young offenders.

This subject attempts the fairly demanding task of providing students with both an understanding of the socio-historical and criminological dimensions of youth justice as well as providing them with a broad understanding of the skills and competencies needed to work with young people. It does not intend to produce graduates who will be equipped to move straight into employment as youth workers. Rather, it forms a solid basis for those who might wish to train further in youth work, and it acknowledges that many graduates in criminology and criminal justice will in their professional lives find themselves interacting with young people and the youth justice system.

Specific examples in the course refer to Queensland, however, the broad features discussed apply Australia-wide. Students are encouraged to explore practices in their own localities.

• Online Quiz (20%)
• Case Study (40%)
• Online Exam (40%)

For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).