Knowledge and Skills Partnerships in Youth Justice

Jayne Price is a Senior Lecturer and the programme leader for Undergraduate Criminology, and Deputy Head of Division Social and Political Science at the University of Chester. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). Jayne is a trustee of YMCA Together and sits on the Executive Committee of the British Society of Criminology. For over ten years, she has volunteered within her local Youth Justice Service working with children and young people, practitioners and other volunteers.Sean Creaney is a Criminologist and Senior Lecturer in the School of Law, Criminology and Policing at Edge Hill University. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). Dr Creaney is an Associate of the Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), and a member of the Transdisciplinary Research for Youth Justice (TRYJustice) network.

"This book is the first to bring together academics and professionals in youth justice to examine the benefits of exchanging their knowledge and practice. The significant, and accessible, chapters are written by leading academic authors and experienced professionals in the field and offer inspirational examples of a wide range of effective partnership between academics and professionals." - Professor Raymond Arthur, Northumbria University"The arrival of this book is really heartening. For those of us who have aspired to bridge the gaps between practice, learning and research this represents a major contribution towards furthering that aim. The authors bring their own wide range of applied knowledge, research experience and critical insights to the field at a time of great change, when there are very real opportunities to harness what we know to improve what is offered to young people who experience the criminal justice system. With a variety of contributions from differing perspectives, the book will provide a rounded view of the field, combined with a wealth of ideas about how best to align knowledge and practice to the maximum effect. Throughout the book runs a spirit of exchange and innovation, which highlights the very real gains to be made on all sides from direct and committed engagement between those dealing with the ‘messy realities’ of practice, and those who have the opportunity to document, reflect and inform. This will be a major asset for those involved in youth justice research and education, on all sides." - Professor Roger Smith, Durham University"This interesting, edited collection is the outcome of a productive new knowledge transfer partnership between the authors and Cheshire Youth Justice Services. Contributors are drawn widely, producing policy relevant discussions that are situated in research and practice, while demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between these domains, through placements, guest lectures and other activities. Consideration of Wales, Scotland and Belarus broadens the scope of discussion in a way that will interest readers from different backgrounds. Ultimately, this valuable volume underlines the importance of meaningful connections between different parties to benefit young people’s treatment and outcomes." - Professor Sarah Brooks-Wilson, University of Birmingham

• Introduction: Knowledge/evidence production and utilisation Sean Creaney and Jayne PriceChapter 1: Enablers and barriers to the development of knowledge and skills partnerships in youth justiceJayne Price and Sean CreaneyChapter 2: Criminology placements and work experience opportunities in youth justiceSean Creaney and Jayne PriceChapter 3: How the inspectorate works with external academics/researchersRobin Moore, Andrea Brazier and Helen MercerChapter 4: Youth Justice Still Live! The centrality of relationships to the maintenance of a youth justice community of practice in challenging times and beyondSue Bond-TaylorChapter 5: The Dyfed Powys Hwb Doeth partnershipKathy HampsonChapter 6: Supporting practice in Scotland: Lessons from the Children and Young People’s Centre for JusticeRoss Gibson, Nina Vaswani and Fiona DyerChapter 7: Advancing best practice in juvenile justice in BelarusVicky PalmerConclusion: Knowledge and skills partnershipsSean Creaney and Jayne Price