ABSTRACT
This chapter explores young women’s pathways through the criminal justice system in Scotland through an intersectional lens, revealing how age, gender, class and race interact to place them in a unique and marginalised position. Practitioners working with young women in community-based settings providing support after prison or secure care, or to prevent them from returning, have a valuable but under-researched insight into their particular experiences and needs. Such practitioners often work with these young women for long periods of time, building relationships with them and bearing witness to the many challenges they face. Fifty interviews with practitioners working with young women in Scotland were undertaken in prison, secure care, social work and community-based organisations. This exploration of their roles and professional experiences revealed the complexities of the work and of the relationships that practitioners are required to build with the young women. The chapter critiques the narrative of inherent vulnerability that often accompanies this population of young women, arguing instead for a more expansive understanding that recognises the intersecting forms of disadvantage and inequality that shape their lives.
