I’ve come across this lovely little research project from the Violence Research Group at Cardiff University. Basically, academics investigating youth crime involved some of the young offenders themselves, getting them interviewing the academics who study the phenomenon and film it. I’ll let them explain.

As far as we are aware, no one has given a young offender the
opportunity
to question academics on their theories of behaviour, crime and so
forth. This seems somewhat amiss, as very often those with the greatest
insight into behaviour are those who engage in it. Moreover, it is
quite possible that such an exchange might yield important insights for
both parties (and others).

They are not technically perfect (I think the sound is a little better in the wmv versions) but these are some nice little films. Although I have to say that I would have liked to hear more about the young people’s reactions to what the academics were saying.


1 Comment

old misery guts · 19th March 2008 at 6:57 am

Just enjoying US tv series The Wire (series 4) – which is unpacking this exact theme – academics actually talking and working with young offenders (in this case young black kids aged 13 or so who are already active in drug dealing and associated activity on the streets of Baltimore). Ok so it’s telly, but it’s damn fine telly and made me think about the value (or otherwise) of mainstream academia and it’s ivory tower approach to life, the universe and everything.

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