NCJ Number
211093
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: September 2005 Pages: 374-386
Date Published
September 2005
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article explored discrimination experienced by Welsh speaking young people in custody in England and Wales.
Abstract
Juvenile custody in the United Kingdom has been widely condemned as deleterious to the rights of young people. The current analysis focused specifically on the situation experienced by Welsh speaking young people in custody in the United Kingdom, analyzing the way in which being a member of a territorially bound and historically situated linguistic group could impact treatment in juvenile custody. The authors review the use of the Welsh Language in England and Wales and describe the results of a questionnaire completed by five members of a youth offending team in an area of Wales with a high proportion of Welsh speakers. Questionnaires focused on the issues arising for Welsh speaking young offenders sentenced to a term of custody. Respondents described the isolation experienced by Welsh speaking juvenile offenders within the justice system, as well as their experience of bullying and intimidation due to their language. The analysis also focused on the implications of discrimination for the personal development and rehabilitation of Welsh speaking young offenders. In closing, the authors assert that Welsh speakers within the United Kingdom should be afforded positive rights to use their language while in criminal justice or juvenile custody. Note, references