Book Review: Joined-Up Youth Justice: Tackling Youth Crime in Partnership:

TLDR: In this article, the authors describe this as more of a practical aid to students on the research process, with the descriptions of work undertaken bringing theory to life and promoting a clearer understanding of how their ideology informed the authors' work.

Abstract: and Melanie McCarry’s account of working with young people – both offer a very valuable and thought-provoking insight into the issues which any student should bear in mind when contemplating research with potentially vulnerable individuals. Second, while the core feminist theories regarding power and control are prevalent, as one would expect, conjectural discourse does not dominate this text. Instead, I would describe this as more of a practical aid to students on the research process, with the descriptions of work undertaken bringing theory to life and promoting a clearer understanding of how their ideology informed the authors’ work. The book only contains one direct reference to the Probation Service but it was heartening to note that this was in positive terms! Gill Hague and Audrey Mullender’s chapter on researching survivor’s views regarding the statutory services notes that ‘Interviewees especially identified improvements in the last five years within the police and probation service’ (p. 151). However, they also offer a powerful argument on the need for multi-agency domestic abuse fora – of which probation officers are increasingly becoming members – to promote a more pro-active role for survivors of domestic abuse within their decision-making process. I also feel that Lynne Harne’s discussion on the complexities involved for females working with male perpetrators has relevance to current probation practice and will strike a chord with many a female probation officer. Overall, I would describe this as an interesting text, which could appeal to those either studying or working in the field of domestic abuse. The chapters are relatively short (around 20 pages) and their individual topics of concern combine to provide a ‘user friendly’ book, which the reader can dip in and out of as needed.