ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the value of participation and relational practice when dealing with imprisoned children. The chapter demonstrates through the lived experience of youth incarceration that attachment and connection need to be front and centre for prison officer practice for children within any secure setting. The author provides a personal narrative and memoir of the importance of child-first principles to enhance the desistance process of imprisoned children. Evaluating both good and bad practices to ensure prison officers have a unique insight into the lived reality of developing a positive self-narrative script through positive interactions with prison staff. Finally, providing a real-life example of how the author utilised experiencing good practice as an incarcerated child to shape his own practice when becoming a trauma-informed and relational experiential peer within his community for justice-involved children.
