Abstract
Rational choice and responsibilisation of young offenders are concepts increasingly informing youth justice policy in Scotland, yet there is evidence from both academics and young offenders that such approaches are ineffective. This article explores the views of young people in care and contrasts their evidence with that from Rational Choice Theory, elements of which are increasingly influencing youth justice policy. Government policy now focuses not on desistance but on the containment and behaviour modification of young offenders, strategies which no longer deliver justice but anticipate and modify so-called ‘rational’ thinking amongst young people.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 347-364 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | The Howard Journal of Crime and Justice |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 17 May 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2013 |
Keywords
- desistance
- youth crime
- risk
- rational choice theory
- young people
- looked after children