Care experienced children and justice: The challenges of trying to disentangle systemic inequality
One of the many challenges care experienced children and young people face is that they are disproportionately more likely to come into contact with the justice system(s). Reflecting on both the ‘Sentencing of Care Experienced Young People‘ webinar and recent Court Report Refresher training CYCJ Practice Development Advisor Ross Gibson considers the scale of the […]
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Nuggets of Wisdom – Children and Young People’s Perspectives on Restorative Justice
With its roots traced back to indigenous populations from all across the globe, restorative justice, or RJ, is one of the most organic and widely used methods of moving forward from acts of harm in a way that is appropriate for both parties involved. While our partners, Community Justice Scotland, explore what restorative justice could […]
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My work placement with CYCJ: Thomas Dalli
Thomas Dalli joined CYCJ’s Office Support Team on a 10 week work placement, starting in September 2023. Thomas joined us via Project SEARCH, a transition-to-work programme which supports young adults with learning disabilities, or autism spectrum disorders to access opportunities in the workplace. During his time with us, Thomas has become an asset to the […]
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Reimagining The Promise Pt. 2
At the start of Care Experience Week 2023, CYCJ Director Fiona Dyer shares this insight into the work that we’re going to help shape a brighter, fairer future for care experienced children and young people in Scotland. This time last year I wrote a blog highlighting how, following the publication of the Independent Care Review, […]
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Empowering families through the Secure Care Pathway and Standards and the Champions Group
I have really enjoyed being part of the Secure Care Champions Group, meeting new people and increasing my knowledge about the Standards, how they are being used by other agencies, and the difference they are making for children, young people, and families. Cyrenians’ ‘Keeping Families Together’ service supports children (12+) in secure accommodation and their […]
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Research: The Next Generation
CYCJ are co-developing a young researchers programme for children and young people, with children and young people. The first pilot was led by ‘The Research Racoons’ from Drumchapel High School who carried out an interesting piece of research on ‘Life in Space’. In addition to becoming brilliant young researchers and undertaking this ‘out of this […]
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Reflections on 2023’s National Youth Justice Conference
Scotland’s progress towards having a youth justice system that is trauma-informed and rights-respecting was at the heart of last month’s National Youth Justice Conference. There is shared ownership of the goal, but how do we get there? What barriers are in place, what solutions are in progress – and what resources do those solutions require? […]
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Socially Just Justice: An Interdisciplinary Research Network
Calling academics, researchers, practitioners and policymakers with an interest in social justice for young adults in conflict with the law CYCJ, together with colleagues from the Universities of Strathclyde, Dundee and Glasgow School of Art, is establishing an interdisciplinary Research Network with funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In this research network we intend […]
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The Victim-or-Perpetrator Dichotomy harms both those who commit crime and those who suffer it.
It is well known that those who cause harm have often been the victims of harm themselves, but the simplistic Victim-or-Perpetrator dichotomy persists. In this piece Kibble’s Dan Johnson explores the prevalence of ACE’s within the Scottish prison population; the high levels of abuse, adversity and neglect mirror the experiences of young people who engage […]
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