Youth crime and justice: Does age matter?

Dates: Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 18:00 to 19:00
Location: Berrill Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, The Open University, MK7 6AA

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jo Phoenix, Professor of Criminology, will deliver her inaugural lecture on youth crime and justice.

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Abstract

Many countries have separate criminal justice systems for young people and adults, but is age the differentiating factor that should be considered? The separation based on age assumes that a ‘just’ response to young people demands recognition of their developmental needs, accredits them with less moral responsibility (than adults) and acts in a way towards them that protects their well-being and welfare.

In this lecture, Professor Jo Phoenix will argue that whilst understandable, this system locks the debate about youth justice into recurring circular disagreements about justice, welfare and rights. Professor Phoenix will discuss different ways in which social circumstances and cultural context might be better placed to differentiate in both adult and youthful law-breaking.

Watch what Professor Phoenix has to say about her lecture in the trailer video below:

Youth crime and justice: Does age matter?

About Professor Jo Phoenix

Jo Phoenix joined The Open University as Professor in Criminology in 2016. Her main research interests cohere around the production of and links between social justice and criminal justice for young people and women and in relation to sex, and sexualities. Jo researches and writes about policy and practice reform to youth justice as well as in relation to child sexual exploitation and prostitution. More recently she has become interested in thinking through issues of justice in relation to sexualities.