Making the case for embedding restorative justice in human rights
Lauren Emmerson has been reflecting this RJ week on how children’s rights, access to justice, and human rights intersect when using restorative justice to heal when harm has been caused by a child or young person. For many of us working in the fields of rights-respecting justice, and those supporting individuals harmed by the behaviour of others, it may seem […]
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Building Psychological Safety for Justice-Involved Youth: Why It Matters
About our blogger: Dr Kristen Gurdak is an Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University whose research focuses on social inclusion among marginalised groups. Her work explores how culture and context shape identity, resilience, and social inclusion across diverse settings. She conducts cross-cultural comparative studies that inform policy, guide practice, and advance inclusive narratives for society. […]
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Language, Learning and Listening: key themes from 2025’s National Youth Justice Conference
In this blog, CYCJ’s Communications and Engagement Advisor Katya Allcott explores the key themes that emerged from this year’s Youth Justice conference. Delivered in partnership with National Youth Justice Advisory Group (NYJAG) and the Scottish Government it hosted over 200 practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and youth justice experts. This year’s theme was Childhood, Safeguarding and the […]
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Collaboration needed for the safety of Scotland’s children and young people – by Fiona Dyer
Recent events in relation to knife crime have been tragic and need to be addressed, but we must be careful that we do not create a moral panic. Research tells us there are many reasons why children may feel the need to carry knives, including fear, peer pressure, exploitation, unresolved trauma and systemic inequalities including […]
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You might not yet know the question… but the answer is probably restorative justice.
Over the past few weeks, I have been privileged to attend numerous conferences and seminars both in Scotland and beyond covering a range of topics relevant to children in conflict with the law. In this blog, I share some of my highlights of these events and the common theme that flowed throughout. In May, Lauren […]
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Reflecting on the 13th International Seminar of the European Forum for Restorative Justice
Upon her return from the 13th International Seminar of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, Lauren Emmerson reflects on her experience hearing from colleagues from across the world as they explored the potential use of restorative practices in addressing the vulnerabilities faced by children on the move. In their workshop Lauren and Pamela Morrison explored […]
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Paving the Way to a Restorative Future: Reflections from the Restorative Justice Council Conference 2024
Earlier this month, Pamela Morrison and Lauren Emmerson, two Practice Development Advisors with CYCJ, attended the Restorative Justice Council (RJC) Annual Conference 2024, “Paving the Way to a Restorative Future,” in Cardiff. Now back at CYCJ, they’ve taken time to reflect on their experience and have each shared their insights in a blog post. Read […]
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