Won’t you, please, please help me?’ The role of parents and juveniles in the problematisation of their own pedagogic situation (1983-2004)

It’s for your own good begins with the finding that  the Belgian youth justice system is often described as one of the most welfare oriented in Europe. In recent decades, several Western European countries have abandoned welfarism and have taken a punitive turn. At first sight, Belgium is not heading in the same direction: youth justice is still underpinned by a mainly protective welfare philosophy. The contributions address tension between law in books and law in action. Political discourse and policy do not reflect the views or demands of professionals. Policy documents therefore do not equate to ‘street level’ daily practices. An empirical image emerges and gives insight into the complexity of the youth justice system and the tensions that characterise these interventions in the lives of so-called problematic youngsters.

Kevin Goris wrote a contribution on the role of parents and juveniles in the problematisation of their own pedagogic situation. Goris, K. (2015), ‘Won’t you, please, please help me?’ The role of parents and juveniles in the problematisation of their own pedagogic situation (1983-2004)’ in J. Christiaens (red.), ‘It’s for your own good.’ Researching youth justice practices, 51-73