Applying Sen's Capabilities Approach to the Delivery of Positive Youth Justice. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Katherine S.; Daniel, Heddwen
• Other Names: Case Stephen guest-editor.; Haines Kevin guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Youth justice. Volume 21:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: children first -- making rights and entitlements 'real' for children -- offenders second -- positive youth justice -- Sen's Capability Approach -- supporting young people to reach their full potential; Juvenile justice, Administration of -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Youth -- Legal status, laws, etc -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Juvenile corrections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.360941
• DOI: 10.1177/1473225420953208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-2254

Abstract

Since 2000 the Welsh Government's (WG) policy has been to provide rights and entitlements to all children in Wales. However, this is not fully implemented partly due to an underspecified meaning of 'children first' and 'well-being' and their role in relation to 'justice'. We propose that clarity could be achieved through a novel exploitation of Amartya Sen's capabilities approach to achieving social justice. This would require the identification and mitigation of socio-structural barriers which undermine the ability of a child to live a positive life, a life where they can meet their full potential without harm to themselves or others.