Book Review: In the Care of the State? Child Deaths in Penal Custody in England and Wales
| Published date | 01 December 2006 |
| Date | 01 December 2006 |
| Author | Gill McIvor |
| DOI | 10.1177/1473225406069499 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
suggest that where this has been facilitated the experience often proves positive for the
victim in allowing them an opportunity to be listened to, treated with respect and for
their views to have some impact on the young offender. Likewise, in addressing the
offender’s experience of victim involvement, chapter five suggests that while victim
involvement can often prove a difficult experience for the young person concerned, it
seems that such contact can prove an effective way to encourage them to accept and
take responsibility for their actions. However, as the authors emphasize, such positive
outcomes are not forthcoming without the significant investment of resources, time and
effort.
There is obviously not a lot of space within reports of evaluative findings to deal
with the wider issues related to the implementation of restorative justice within youth
justice, notably in relation to ‘net widening’(briefly addressed in chapter seven) and the
potential implications of such positive findings for expanding, or perhaps even shifting,
the focus of such ‘inclusionary’responses from entry level and low tariff offenders to
their more criminally-embedded counterparts. On the latter point, McIvor’s (2004)
review of evidence suggests that restorative justice has proved more effective with
offenders convicted of serious offences than with less serious ‘young offenders’,in
terms of reducing both the frequency and the seriousness of recidivism. That said,
Crawford and Burden’s report is a welcome addition to the emerging literature on the
implementation, value and difficulties of applying restorative justice principles within
the youth justice context in England and Wales and its accessibility and good practice
recommendations will ensure its wide appeal.
References
McIvor, G. (2004) ‘Reparative and restorative approaches’, in A. Bottoms, S. Rex and G.
Robinson (eds), Alternatives to Prison: Options in an Insecure Society. Cullumpton: Willan
Publishing.
Muncie, J. (2000) ‘Pragmatic Realism? Searching for Criminology in the New Youth Justice’,in
B. Goldson, (ed.) The New Youth Justice. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.
B. Goldson and D. Coles, In the Care of the State? Child Deaths in Penal
Custody in England and Wales, Inquest, London, 2005, £15.00 Pb, ISBN
0–94685–819–5.
Reviewed by: Professor Gill McIvor, Department of Applied Social Science,
University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.
DOI: 10.1177/1473225406069499
The death of 28 young people in penal custody in England and Wales between 1990
and 2005 provides the context of and focus of this book that is based on a historical
analysis of youth penal policy, case studies of deaths of children in penal custody and
analyses of post-death investigations and inquests. The book begins with a historical
analysis of changes in policy and legislation that have had the effect, since 1994, of
increasing the numbers of young people detained in penal establishments. This includes
young people detained under sentence and on remand, with England and Wales
Youth Justice 6(3)230
j:text 24-10-2006 p:62 c:0
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