Resources launch to tackle racism in the youth justice system
Summary
The Youth Justice Board (YJB) for England and Wales provided resources to raise awareness of adultification in the youth justice system. These consist of an animation commissioned by the London Accommodation Resettlement Partnership explaining adultification and its implications, and a podcast, where the issues are discussed in detail by Jahnine Davis, director and co-founder of Listen Up, and Stephanie Roberts-Bibby, YJB’s Chief Executive.
Details
The animation defines adultification as a form of bias which results in notions of innocence and vulnerability not being afforded to certain children. Research shows that racialised children, particularly Black children, are primarily impacted by adultification bias – they are less likely to be deemed vulnerable and more likely to be treated with suspicion and not requiring safeguarding intervention.
The animation and the podcast highlight the importance of understanding intersectionality to understand the impact of adultification when considering race, ethnicity, gender, neurodiversity and other intersections. Adultification is a violation of child safeguarding laws, as it shifts responsibility from protecting children to blaming them.
The YJB’s Chief Executive, Stephanie Roberts Bibby says:
“Understanding and addressing adultification is a crucial step in tackling racial disparities. By challenging these deeply ingrained biases, we can move closer to creating a fairer and more equitable system for all children, which will reduce offending and lead to fewer victims and safer communities.”
Jahnine Davis, director and co-founder of ListenUp, says:
“I urge everyone to engage with the resources for learning and reflection, and to ensure that they are adopting a child-first approach by understanding more about adultification and the challenges it can create for children in the youth justice system. We must remember that all children are inherently vulnerable, and assumptions, particularly related to racial stereotypes, should not lead our thinking or interventions.”
Commentary
The resources provided by YJB highlight the issue of adultification, which diminishes the rights of children by replacing vulnerability with culpability. It is crucial for professionals to take a holistic approach and consider various factors that may influence the child, such as race, class and trauma. The resources encourage professionals to approach children with professional curiosity and a child-first approach and re-examine assumptions and stereotypes that may be at influence.
For further guidance, see the following YJLC Guide: #1 Fighting Racial Injustice: Background, childhood, legal representation & trauma.