Solving the Youth Crime ‘Problem' | Stephen Case | TEDxLoughboroughU

Summary

Professor Steve Case discusses the concept of youth crime as a social construction, arguing that it has been exaggerated by governments, media, and interest groups. He traces the creation of 'youth' as a category and how it led to the perception of youth crime as a problem. Case advocates for a shift in perspective, suggesting that addressing underlying issues like poverty and social deprivation, rather than youth themselves, is key to solving the problem. He introduces 'positive youth justice' as a model that treats children as part of the solution, not the problem.

Takeaways

• 📚 The concept of 'youth crime' is a social construction, not a naturally occurring problem.
• 👨‍🏫 Before the 19th century, the term 'youth' did not exist; society only recognized children and adults.
• 🚸 The creation of the 'youth' category was a way to resolve societal ambivalence towards children who were seen as both innocent and threatening.
• 📈 The rise of official crime statistics in the mid-19th century led to the creation and exaggeration of 'youth crime' as a distinct category.
• 🏛️ Governments contributed to the youth crime problem by creating legislation and institutions that targeted young people, thus reinforcing the issue.
• 📊 The focus on youth crime led to an increase in official statistics, which in turn led to the perception of a growing problem.
• 🌟 The media and government have a vested interest in maintaining the perception of youth crime as a significant issue to maintain public dependency and justify their roles.
• 🔍 The real issues behind youth crime are adult-created problems such as social deprivation, poverty, and unmet needs.
• 🛠️ Professor Steve Case proposes 'positive youth justice' as a solution, which treats children who break the law as children first, focusing on their developmental needs.
• 🌱 A shift in perspective is needed to view youth not as problems but as part of the solution to the issues that lead to crime.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented by Professor Steve case in the transcript?

Professor Steve case argues that the concept of youth crime as a problem is a social construction, created and exaggerated by interest groups such as the government, media, and some academics. He suggests that this has led to a self-fulfilling prophecy where the methods used to understand and tackle youth crime have actually contributed to its existence and growth.

How does Professor Case describe the creation of the 'youth' category?

He explains that 200 years ago, the concept of 'youth' did not exist, and society only recognized children and adults. The creation of the 'youth' category was a way to resolve the ambivalence society felt towards children who were becoming more visible and distinct but were causing anxiety due to their behavior.

What role did the Industrial Revolution play in the creation of the youth category?

The Industrial Revolution led to children no longer working in factories and being pushed out onto the streets. Without formal compulsory education, they spent their days on the streets, which led to the creation of the youth category to understand and control this group.

How does Professor Case relate the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' to the issue of youth crime?

He uses the story as a metaphor for the illusion of the youth crime problem. Just as the characters in 'The Wizard of Oz' discover that the all-powerful being is maintaining an illusion, Professor Case suggests that the government and media are maintaining the illusion of youth crime to serve their interests.

What is a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' in the context of youth crime according to Professor Case?

A self-fulfilling prophecy refers to the idea that the attention and methods used to address youth crime have inadvertently contributed to its existence and growth. The more it is treated as a problem, the more it becomes one, leading to a cycle that perpetuates the issue.

What is the role of the government in the creation and perpetuation of the youth crime problem according to the transcript?

The government plays a significant role by creating legislation, defining the parameters of youth crime, and extending the category to include younger children. This contributes to the artificial exaggeration of the problem and maintains the illusion that the government has control over it.

How does the media contribute to the youth crime problem as described by Professor Case?

The media contributes by misrepresenting the extent and severity of youth crime, creating a public perception that it is a bigger issue than it actually is. This helps maintain public dependency and serves the media's interests in gaining audience and public confidence.

What is the 'positive youth justice' model proposed by Professor Case?

Positive youth justice is a model that treats children who break the law as children first, acknowledging their age, maturity, and development. It focuses on resolving the underlying issues that lead to youth crime and promotes positive outcomes and behaviors instead of stigmatizing or punishing children.

What is the main solution proposed by Professor Case to address the youth crime problem?

The main solution proposed is to change the perspective on youth crime, seeing it not as a problem but as a manifestation of other issues such as social deprivation, poverty, and unmet needs. The focus should be on addressing these root causes and supporting children and young people rather than treating them as the problem.

How does Professor Case suggest involving children and young people in addressing youth crime?

He suggests involving them in a child-appropriate and child-friendly manner, conducting actions in partnership with them. This approach is more effective in resolving the issues that lead to youth crime and helps bring a more realistic perspective to the problem.

What evidence does Professor Case provide to support his argument?

He cites his own research and work with children, young people, families, youth justice agencies, and politicians, which shows that child-first approaches are more effective than government-based approaches in resolving issues that lead to youth crime.