Young offenders' perceptions of their experiences under police arrest

The youth justice system in England and Wales has adopted the overall aim of “preventing offending” (Crime and Disorder Act 1998). Integral to achieving this aim is the engagement of young people, demonstrated by policy emphasis on ensuring an offender accepts responsibility for their crimes (e.g. through reparation and mediation). However, this increased emphasis on their active role belies a persistent deficit in the research-base of how young offenders actually interpret their experiences with criminal justice agencies. Complementing a presentation on young people’s attitudes towards the police, presented at the 2005 BSC conference, this paper explores young offenders’ experiences of arrest. The findings are taken from an ESRC funded study of young offenders’ perceptions of their experiences of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, conducted while at the Policy Research Bureau, London. This research involved qualitative interviews with 37 young offenders aged 12-17 years, contextual interviews with youth justice professionals and examination of case files. The paper presents the offenders’ critical views of their experiences under arrest, focusing on issues they raised regarding the arrest procedures, police transfer, and time at the police station. These are then analysed in relation to concepts of appropriate treatment, coping strategies, positive and negative support and adult-child power relations. Some implications for policy and practice are explored