Practitioner Perspectives: The mental health needs of young offenders in Scotland

Abstract

The research is concerned with the supports available to young offenders with mental health needs within the Scottish Criminal Justice System and is based on the perspectives and experiences of practitioners who work with this distinct group. Young offenders who are diverted away from prosecution are often referred to third sector service providers for goal-based support and offence-focused programme work. By identifying practitioners’ understandings and interpretations of the models of mental health and youth justice service provision available for young offenders, this will allow the research to highlight examples of good practice and determine the additional support needed for practitioners assessing and supporting complex needs. To achieve this, I have used qualitative research methods to interview six practitioners within a third sector organisation delivering youth justice support. Using thematic analysis, three main themes that transpired were; confidence and legitimacy, challenges and demands, and usefulness of restorative justice. The themes demonstrated interesting insights into the wider impact that organisational and criminal justice ideals have on practitioner’s service delivery of young offenders with mental health needs. The findings intend to provide evidence-based knowledge to justice-based third sector organisations, whilst also encouraging further research of mental health policy within youth justice.