Call For Submissions: Addressing the Over-Representation of Children in Care in the Criminal Justice System

16th March 2018

The Irish Penal Reform Trust has commissioned research on the over-representation of children in care or with care experience in the criminal justice system. The research will be carried out by Dr Nicola Carr (University of Nottingham) and Dr Paula Mayock (Trinity College Dublin). To date there has been no specific published research focusing on the links between care and criminalisation in Ireland. This project has two main aims:

1. To examine the extent of, and the reasons for the over-representation of children in care or with care experience in the criminal justice system in Ireland and;
2. To identify the best ways to address and reduce the criminalisation of these young people.

International research on this topic points to individual and systemic factors that may lead care-experienced young people to come into contact with the criminal justice system at a higher rate than their non-care peers. Key issues identified include evidence that young people who experience high degrees of adversity may be more at risk of involvement in offending, but also that the nature of care provision may contribute to processes of criminalisation.

At this stage of the project we would like to invite submissions from any interested parties on this topic.

Submissions can be sent by email to: care@iprt.ie

We would be grateful to receive any submissions by: 23rd March 2018 (some grace allowed)

This campaign is kindly supported by The Community Foundation for Ireland.