Young Offenders and the Law: How the Law Responds to Youth Offending

How does the law deal with young offenders, and to what extent does the law protect and promote the rights of young people in conflict with the law? These are the central issues addressed by Young Offenders and the Law in its examination of the legal response to the phenomenon of youth offending, and the contemporary forces that shape the law.
This book develops the reader’s understanding of the sociological, criminological, historical, political, and philosophical approaches to youth offending in England and Wales, and also presents a comparative review of developments in other jurisdictions. It provides a comprehensive critical analysis of the legislative and policy framework currently governing the operation of the youth justice system in England and Wales, and evaluates the response of the legal system in light of modern legislative framework and international best practice. All aspects of trial and pre-trial procedure affecting young offenders are covered, including: the age of criminal responsibility, police powers, trial procedure, together with the full range of detention facilities and non-custodial options.
Young Offenders and the Law provides, for the first time, a primary source of reference on youth offending. It is an essential text for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Law, Criminology, and Criminal Justice Studies.

Dr Raymond Arthur is Senior Lecturer in Law at the School of Social Sciences and Law, Teesside University. His research interests include preventing youth crime, the impact of family life on youth offending, the youth justice system, and child law. Recent publications include Family Life and Youth Offending: Home is where the Hurt Is (Routledge, 2007), ‘Parental Responsibility Laws’ in Reforming Juvenile Justice (2009), and ‘Protecting the Best Interests of the Child’ in the International Journal of Children’s Rights (2010).

Part 1: Historical Development of the English Youth Justice System 1. Development of a Separate Youth Justice System - Historical Perspectives 2. Development of the Youth Justice System, 1900-19693. The Youth Justice System - From the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 to the Present Part 2: Legal Principles Underpinning the English Youth Justice System 4. The Impact of International Law on the Development of the English Youth Justice System 5. The Age of Criminal Responsibility and the Defence of Doli Incapax 6. Protecting the Welfare of Young People who Offend 7. Preventing Youth Offending Part 3: The English Youth Justice System in Practice 8. The Role of the Police and the Youth Court in Tackling Youth Offending 9. Restorative Justice in the English Youth Justice System 10. Sentencing Options Availalbe to the Youth Court 11. Punishing Parents for Youth Offending 12. Youth Offending Cases in the Adult Crown Court