ABSTRACT
The Conclusion proposes a view of young offenders and their families that might better explain how their everyday lives and behaviour, as well as the ways in which professionals attend to their issues, are impacted by class-conditioned maldistribution and misrecognition. It introduces and defends alternative conceptions of justice, agency, and autonomy within institutions that work with young people in conflict with the law and their parents. It argues that such conceptions might help shed light on and prevent the unequal treatment of clients according to class in practice. The conclusion also provides recommendations for further theoretical endeavours and practical research. Rather than suggesting concrete policy changes, it demonstrates that the current professional perceptions and practices within youth justice are but one option, while other – substantively more just – alternatives exist.
