Working with Parents in the Youth Justice System: Compulsory Help and ‘Doing Good’

Abstract

This paper draws on interviews with parents of young people in trouble with the law, youth justice workers and with youth court magistrates, to investigate the operation of compulsory help through Parenting Orders. It traces the social policy approach of New Labour to ‘failing’ parents, explores the attitudes of those most closely involved in the youth justice context, and attempts to draw out some more general considerations for social work practice, including the attractions and costs of ‘doing good’ as a basis for compulsory intervention. Drawing on the success of previous social work practice, the paper argues that, rather than being drawn in the direction of compulsion, social workers ought to argue the case for voluntary assistance and resistance to the corrosive effects of social authoritarianism.

Keywords:

• compulsion
• justice
• parents