Position Paper 2023

Transdisciplinary Research for Youth Justice – Position Paper 2023 3 Executive Summary Contributions of this Network: This Transdisciplinary Research Network for Youth Justice (TRYJustice) aims to make two key contributions in this field. The first aim is a deeper understanding of what prevents children’s offending, both in terms of first-time entrants into youth justice systems, and reoffending. The second aim is to contribute to the methodological field of transdisciplinary research in terms of developing a framework that enables unique insights through using a truly transdisciplinary research design. Process: This position paper is the first output of the TRYJustice network. It provides a framework for future activity of the network, as well as establishing commonalities between represented disciplines. In developing this paper, we utilised a case study to anchor our different disciplinary viewpoints to. This enabled us to identify key contact points for change, and compare disciplinary approaches to the specific experiences of a child. Summary: We identified the core issues in Youth Justice currently, and identified that siloed approaches aren’t meeting the needs of children. An opportunity exists for transdisciplinary work to bridge the gaps between disciplinary insights into youth justice, and improving life outcomes for children. This approach enables a deep, multi-layered understanding of a highly complex phenomenon. This is important as positive change can happen at micro- and macro- levels, including specific interventions at institutional, local, or national level, as well as the shifting political and cultural context. Our identified overarching research question was: ❖ How can a transdisciplinary approach help to map a comprehensive picture of contemporary understanding of what prevents children's offending? The sub research questions were: • What additional insights can a transdisciplinary approach give above traditional disciplinary approaches? • How can a transdisciplinary approach to research be used to better inform youth justice/education policy making for children who offend, within a child first framework? • How can we develop a transdisciplinary framework or model of working across disciplines and sectors, with an effective integration of practice partners? This paper sets the rationale for the TRYJustice Group and the foundations upon which we will develop our contributions to the field. These ouputs include a multi-disciplinary research programme which will culminate in a series of original research papers; a framework for transdiscplinary research and; a Handbook on Children’s Education in Custodial and Youth Justice Settings with the publishers Palgrave.