System-independent inequalities in youth justice decision-making: Seven spheres of influence

Children with social and health-related disadvantages are over-represented in youth justice systems in many countries. This phenomenon cannot be explained by offending rates alone; rather, a wide body of research suggests that inequalities in youth justice decision-making play a significant role. With reference to Van den Brink and Lanskey’s seven spheres framework and drawing on qualitative analysis of data from decision-makers in youth justice and related services in England & Wales and the Netherlands, we discuss influences common to both systems which were identified as fuelling inequalities in youth justice decision-making and which may have wider relevance.