Working with families in youth justice
| Author | Christopher John Trotter |
| DOI | 10.1177/0264550517692057 |
| Date | 01 June 2017 |
| Published date | 01 June 2017 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Working with families
in youth justice
Christopher John Trotter
Monash University, Australia
Abstract
There is considerable evidence that family relationships are a factor in youth offending
and that working with families of young offenders can improve family relationships
and reduce the likelihood of re-offending. There is less evidence that frontline youth
justice staff can successfully deliver family interventions to the families of young people
on court orders. This study examines a project which involves the delivery of colla-
borative family work by youth justice workers in New South Wales, Australia, to
young people and their families as part of a statutory youth justice service. The paper
first outlines the literature, which supports the value of working with the families of
young offenders. It then outlines the aims and methodology of the study followed by a
discussion of the results, limitations and implications.
Keywords
probation, rehabilitation, relationships, supervision, youth justice
Literature review
There seems little doubt that family relationships are a factor in the development
of delinquent and criminal behaviour. The relationship between family and
criminal activity can be explained through a number of criminological theories
including learning theory, labelling theory and social control theory. Children
and young people may be socialized into pro-social or criminal behaviour by a
process of reinforcement and through the personal models to whom they are
exposed (Burke, 2001).
Corresponding Author:
Christopher John Trotter, Social Work Department, Monash University, PO Box 197, Caulfield East,
Vic 3145, Australia.
Email: christopher.trotter@monash.edu
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2017, Vol. 64(2) 94–107
ªThe Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0264550517692057
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