ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the processes for dealing with difficult adolescents in England and Wales. The services are different from those in other countries, even from Scotland which tends to be more liberal in its approach or Northern Ireland which tends to be more punitive. Following the careers of adolescents in secure settings is complicated by the fact that, although there are clear legislative and administrative procedures for handling such cases, the different statutory authorities – health, social services and Home Office – often share facilities. Thus, within any secure unit run by local authority social services, there will be young people who are the responsibility of several different central and local departments. Older adolescents on remand jostle with convicted offenders and the behaviourally disordered, some of whom will be in state care. Many adolescents are young offenders and enter the system via youth justice.
