Perspectives on Youth Crime: Discussion Papers from Barnardos and the Irish Penal Reform Trust
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Author
Barnardos
The Irish Penal Reform Trust
Date
2000
Citation
Barnardos & the Irish Penal Reform Trust. (2000). Perspectives on Youth Crime: Discussion Papers from Barnardos and the Irish Penal Reform Trust. https://knowledge.barnardos.ie/handle/20.500.13085/900
Abstract
Youth crime constitutes a significant portion of overall crime, often involving minor offences but carrying serious implications for victims and young offenders alike. Most young people who come into conflict with the law have experienced social and educational disadvantage. Addressing youth crime, therefore, requires examining these underlying conditions and recognising that those under eighteen are children, as defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Disadvantaged communities, often stereotyped negatively, also display resilience and warmth despite adversity. Solutions must involve families and communities, as highlighted by the family conference approach. Reducing youth crime necessitates tackling inequality and investing in early childhood care and education, which research shows yields long-term savings by reducing later criminal justice costs. While early intervention, supportive education, and family services can reduce youth crime, broader political change is needed. Official responses should prioritise community-based alternatives over detention, reserving incarceration for the last resort. The Irish Penal Reform Trust and Barnardos advocate for comprehensive, research-based measures to address youth crime, aiming for better outcomes for both victims and offenders.