Alternatives to custody

This book is one of the main outcomes of a two-year pan-European project on developing intensive and remand fostering programmes for young people in conflict with the law, who might otherwise be in custody. As an alternative to custody, foster care can provide a critical role in delivering child-friendly justice, providing safe care, nurturing relationships, and providing structured caregiving. This resources explores the issues and the role that foster care can play, studies the different policy and legislative environments in four European countries, and provides a training course for prospective foster carers. 

The first part of the book examines the limited role that foster care currently plays in youth justice, and the potential for expanded use. An overview sets out the key international and European juvenile justice and children’s rights standards, and the components found in effective youth justice systems, including prevention, diversion and community-level services. The second part contains policy overviews from Italy, Bulgaria, England and Hungary, exploring each country’s achievements and shortcomings in youth justice. Chapters on setting up and operating a fostering service for children in conflict with the law and developing a quality standards framework offer practical tools. The third section of the book comprises a training programme to prepare prospective foster carers for the task of fostering children in conflict with the law. Presented in a clear and practical way, it equips prospective foster carers with knowledge and skills. 

This book makes a powerful case for the role that intensive and remand fostering can play to bring about significant positive effects for young people in conflict with the law, and is essential reading for policy makers and practitioners involved in fostering and youth justice services. 

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