A Thematic Analysis of Case Managers’ Perspectives on Enablers and Constraints to Community Youth Justice Service Delivery in an Australian Jurisdiction

In a context in which many calls are made for the reform of youth justice services, little is known about aspects of practice that youth justice staff regard as critical to effective service delivery in community settings. This study reports an analysis of seven focus groups involving 40 Youth Justice staff members from an Australian jurisdiction. Participants identified the ability to engage and build rapport with justice-involved young people as critical to effective practice, while also identifying a number of barriers to meaningful engagement. These findings are discussed as they relate to ongoing efforts to reform and strengthen current services.