International Journal of Adolescence and Youth

Advancing Policy and Practice for Youth in the Legal System

This Article Collection brings together interdisciplinary research to examine innovative approaches to prevention, intervention, and system transformation to advance equity, well-being, and justice for defendants and offenders within the juvenile justice system. Over the last few decades, researchers and advocates have explored rehabilitative approaches to reducing system involvement for youth and its subsequent harms while improving long-term outcomes. Further, policies and laws have increasingly been informed by developmental research highlighting that youth are highly amenable to rehabilitation. Despite the progress, persistent disparities continue to exist within the juvenile legal system and how youth are treated once they are involved and labeled “delinquent.”

Advancing policy and practice for youth in the legal system is critical due to the long-lasting collateral consequences on youth, emerging adults, their families, and communities. As research evidence continues to demonstrate that systems-involved youth have experienced trauma, adverse life experiences, discrimination, and unmet educational and social needs, punitive legal responses are insufficient and ineffective. The growing research on innovative approaches, such as trauma-responsive practices, prevention programs, diversion initiatives, and restorative justice practices, provide opportunities to reduce youths’ legal system contact and reduce likelihood of recidivism of those youth already involved in the legal system while also fostering a space of accountability, healing, and re/habilitation for youth. This Article Collection aims to advance and highlight the research, practice, and policy evidence that reduce disparities, strengthen youth and families, and support positive youth developmental trajectories and outcomes. The Article Collection gives space for reimagining better systems and supports for youth.

This Article Collection explores contemporary research, practice, and advocacy efforts for youth in the legal system. This spans many sub-topics including (but not limited to):

• Trauma-informed and gender-responsive care
• Alternative legal processes and diversion
• Legal and policy considerations (e.g., raise the age, raise the floor, youth tried as adults)
• Prevention of system involvement
• Restorative and transformative justice practices
• Addressing inequities and disparities (e.g., racial/ethnic, gender and sexual minority, disability)
• Cross-cultural and intersectional perspectives
• Dismantling the school-to-prison or abuse-to-prison pathway
• Abolition and dreamstorming

For this Article Collection, we are seeking submissions of the following manuscript types:

• Original research articles (quantitative – 3,500 to 5,000 words; qualitative – up to 8,000 words)
• Theoretical articles (up to 6,000 words)
• Brief reports/Data Note (up to 2,000 words)
• Review articles (up to 6,000 words)
• Systematic or scoping reviews (up to 8,000 words)
• Media reviews (up to 6,000 words)

Please contact Dr. MK Huffman at mary.huffman@taylorandfrancis.com with any queries about discount codes regarding this Article Collection, and please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Dr. Apryl Alexander is the Metrolina Distinguished Professor of Health and Public Policy in the Department of Public Health and Health Administration at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She also serves as Founding Director of the UNC Charlotte Violence Prevention Center. She earned a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Florida Institute of Technology with concentrations in forensic psychology and child and family therapy. She also served as the 2026 President of the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (Division 37 of the American Psychological Association).

Dr. Apryl Alexander declares no conflict of interest regarding this work.