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Julie Shaw, Why Do Young People Offend in Children's Homes? Research, Theory and Practice, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 44, Issue 7, October 2014, Pages 1823–1839, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bct047
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Abstract
The following article reports upon and discusses the results of part of the author's Ph.D. study, the focus of which was young people's perceptions of the factors that contribute to them coming to the attention of the youth justice system while resident in children's homes in England. The study ultimately confirmed that a complex interplay of factors contribute to youth justice involvement and, as such, it is argued that a continued primary focus upon the individual responsibility and disposition of the young people in terms of how we respond to offending and troublesome behaviour in residential children's homes will only ever address part of the problem. There is the clear necessity to employ a holistic approach which both recognises and focuses on the contribution of values and identities formed by the young people prior to entering residential care, the importance of peer relationships, the impact of staff–resident relationships, along with the institutional culture and environment. Only in this way can we hope to make realistic progress towards addressing the issue in a way which will be of benefit to the greatest number of children and young people.
