Summary:
The presentation shared the latest evidence and findings related to neurodivergent children’s experiences in the youth justice system. Considering neurodivergent children’s pathways into, through and out of the youth justice system. Finishing with some recommendations for practitioners.
Bio:
Dr Anne-Marie Day is a Criminology Lecturer based in the Manchester Centre for Youth Studies at MMU. She has conducted research on children in care and neurodivergent children’s experiences in the youth justice system. Anne-Marie is currently working on a research project exploring racial disparity in youth justice diversion. Anne-Marie also has many years’ experience as a practitioner and policy maker within criminal justice. She is a qualified Probation Officer, and has worked in the community, courts and prison. Anne-Marie has also worked as a youth justice manager and for the Youth Justice Board as a Senior Policy Adviser. Anne-Marie is a board member for the Alliance for Youth Justice.
Relevant Links –
- Future webinars – https://www.tickettailor.com/events/childrensandyoungpeoplescentreforjustice
- Disabling and criminalising systems? Understanding the experiences and challenges facing incarcerated, neurodivergent children in the education and youth justice systems in England – ScienceDirect
- The over-representation of neurodivergent children in Youth Justice Systems and The Youth Court – PubMed
- Kids ‘at risk’ of school exclusion and youth justice involvement? Or neurodivergent children and families in need of trauma-informed support?
- Justice for children with SEND & neurodivergence, Independent Review – SEND-Neurodivergence-and-Youth-Justice-Report-Sieff-Foundation-2025.pdf
- Inside Our Minds series with Chris Packham – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bbnh47
- CYCJ Practice Chapter on Mental Health and Neurodiversity – https://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Section-8-Mental-Health-and-Neurodiversity.pdf
- To keep up to date on all CYCJ events, you can sign up for our monthly e-bulletin here – http://eepurl.com/dvyBuv
Presentation – https://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Anne-Marie-Day.pdf