The Palgrave Handbook on the Education of Children in Criminal Justice Settings

This handbook uniquely brings together international perspectives on education for children and young people who are incarcerated or otherwise come into conflict with the law. Contributions from more than forty authors across twelve countries explore the shared educational experiences, inequalities, and complex unmet needs that shape children’s lives in youth justice settings. Collectively, the chapters highlight the tensions between welfare, justice, and education, while proposing a new lens encapsulated in the acronym of CHILD-friendly principles. The handbook provides a comprehensive overview of this emerging field, offering evidence-informed recommendations for policymakers, educators, and youth justice systems by calling for education to move from the margins of youth justice to its centre: not as an add-on to punishment, but as a mechanism of dignity, inclusion, and social justice, grounded in the recognition that children in custody remain children first.