Care-leaver activism and criminogenic welfare: An Australian case study
This article discusses the failings of Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC) in Australia, focussing on 20th century OOHC systems’ construction of non-offending minors as “problems” while exposing them to high-risk environments defined here as “crime scenes”. Governments are deemed culpable for the inherent crimi...
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| Contributors: | ; |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal of criminology
Year: 2025, Volume: 58, Issue: 2, Pages: 225-240 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | This article discusses the failings of Out-Of-Home Care (OOHC) in Australia, focussing on 20th century OOHC systems’ construction of non-offending minors as “problems” while exposing them to high-risk environments defined here as “crime scenes”. Governments are deemed culpable for the inherent criminality of the system and its institutions. Juxtaposed to this is the development of care-leaver activist groups since the 1990s, and their fight to make governments and institutions accountable and to advocate in legal and bureaucratic forums for care-leavers and those currently in care. The discussion benefits from the insights of the article's lead author, herself a former state ward and a long-time care-leaver activist. The article identifies obstacles militating against activist successes, including institutional resistance and the historical reluctance of academics, especially criminologists, to engage with the problem. |
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| ISSN: | 2633-8084 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/26338076241286577 |
