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 Community Psychology
Masters' and Doctoral Theses
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Abstract
Spee, K. (1998). The voice of youth: young people share their experiences of being involved in the youth justice system.
The purpose of this research was to enable young people to have their say about the present Youth Justice System. Seven in-depth interviews with young people aged between 14-16 were carried out. Criteria for involvement in the research outlined that the young people had to have past experience in being involved in a youth justice family group conference. Principles that underpinned the research included respect, awareness of power dynamics and reciprocity. The method and analysis was supported within a feminist framework.
The seven interviews were recorded in case study form. It was important that the case studies presented the views and opinions of the young people free of "adult-eration". As such case studies are more or less the original transcripts with information added to help the flow of information. The young people stories were indications that there are some real areas for concern. Firstly police relations with the young people appeared to be fraught with difficulties. The young people were openly denied their rights and were harassed. In regards to the youth justice family group conference, young people appeared ambivalent towards the process, going through the motions because they knew it was something they had to do. Overall young people were not informed of their rights in many situation including school expulsion.
The research emphasizes the fact that young people are often in powerless positions in society and have limited voice to defend themselves. In a system developed and run by adults there is limited support for young people who may be hakama (shy) and lack the confidence to speak out. Although the 1989 Children, Young Persons and their Families Act brought about some positive changes like whanau, victim and offender involvement it is essential that on-going evaluation and monitoring of the service occurs. There is always room for improvement. |
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