Challenging Justice Inequalities

Join Our Youth Advisory Group and Shape Research

We are excited to announce the next phase of the “Challenging Justice Inequalities” project, a collaborative research initiative led by the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), in partnership with colleagues from the University of Strathclyde’s School of Education, the School of Law, and CELCIS (Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection). This project aims to address critical gaps in our understanding of how intersecting inequalities impact children in conflict with the law.

Be a Part of the Youth Advisory Group: Co-produce Research That Matters

At the heart of this project is the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), which will comprise 10 young people aged 14-17 with personal experience with the justice system. We are actively seeking diverse voices from across Scotland, especially those representing different protected characteristics (such as age, race, faith, sex/gender, sexuality, disability, and gender reassignment) and various justice experiences. This could include experiences such as being stopped or arrested by the police, attending a children’s hearing for offences, going to court, or receiving support for offending behaviour.

The YAG will not just guide the research; they will co-produce it alongside our project team.

This group will play a pivotal role in shaping the research agenda, helping to identify key areas of focus, and designing the methods used to explore the views and experiences of other young people. This approach ensures that the research is deeply rooted in the lived experiences of those directly impacted by justice inequalities.

What to Expect as a Youth Advisory Group Member

Members of the YAG will meet in Glasgow once or twice a month over 18 months. As active co-researchers, the group will contribute to developing a unique intersectional understanding of children’s justice experiences, helping to establish a distinctive knowledge base from which to advocate for more inclusive and fair justice practices. Activities might include: taking photos, drawing pictures, making online posters, building things out of Lego or other materials, creating music, storytelling, taking part in discussions, recording voice notes etc

Participants will receive compensation for their time and contributions.

Understanding Intersectional Justice for Children

Children in conflict with the law often face multiple and overlapping disadvantages, such as abuse, neglect, trauma, poverty, and exclusion. These experiences can significantly affect how children engage with the justice system, with minoritised groups often over-represented and under-supported. The “Challenging Justice Inequalities” project aims to bring these issues to light by exploring the interactions between protected characteristics, poverty, and children’s experiences within the Scottish youth justice system. This encompasses police contact, the children’s hearings system, the criminal courts, and other justice institutions.

Our Funder: The Nuffield Foundation

This project is funded by The Nuffield Foundation, an independent charitable trust that supports research to advance social well-being. While the Foundation provides crucial financial backing, the views and findings of the project are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Foundation.

Get Involved

If you or someone you know is interested in being part of the Youth Advisory Group, please contact us at challengejustice@strath.ac.uk.

You can also visit the Challenging Justice Inequalities website for more information by clicking here.