Juvenile justice in Ireland is in crisis. Kilkelly draws a picture of the juvenile offender in Ireland, aiming to: highlight the circumstances of offending children and their families, show the type and number of offences committed, identify and explore trends in juvenile offending, and consider the complexity of problems that such children face. The book will set out a comprehensive and critical analysis of the legislative and policy framework currently governing the operation of the juvenile justice system. This will include evaluating the continued use of the Children Act, 1908 and examining the extent to which the Children Act, 2001 has been implemented. It will critically evaluate the response of the legal system to juvenile offending in the light of the modern legislative framework and international best practice. In this context, the book will adopt a critical approach to the operation of the juvenile justice system looking at the following elements: the Garda Diversion Scheme; the operation of the Children Court; custodial and non-custodial sanctions imposed on children, and the detention of children. In addition, the book will consider the complex problems that such children present to the legal system. It will compare cases of offending and non-offending children and examine the overlap between, and different approaches of the care and justice systems in this area.

In this regard, it will consider the approach taken by many children who have been forced to take High Court proceedings to have their needs met, and it will contrast this with the route most children take through the (criminal) Children Court. Throughout, the approach will be one which challenges certain perceptions about juvenile offending and crime in Ireland, and the justice system's response to it. An attempt will be made to decipher reality and perception in an area where the lack of detailed, up-to-date data and research makes it extraordinarily difficult to draw a clear and accurate picture of both the juvenile and the juvenile justice system.Ã?Â?Ã?Â?.