Working Groups
WORKING GROUP 1: Identification of linguistic phenomena key to youth justice
WG1 will focus on the key language skills that children and adolescents need to effectively navigate justice processes, such as during arrests, police interrogations, court interactions, and probation services. It will specifically look at areas of language that are often delayed or impaired in vulnerable groups, such as complex wh- and yes/no question formation; syntactic structures encoding belief attributions and reported speech, including embedded questions; pronominal, temporal and modal interpretation. These analyses will include both monolingual and multilingual individuals, whether they are typically developing or have neurodevelopmental conditions like Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities.
WORKING GROUP 2: Blueprint of language screening tools for the youth justice system
WG2 aims to develop a comprehensive blueprint that outlines the necessary components of language screening tools, taking into account the linguistic domains crucial for effective participation in legal processes. The focus is on analysing language input and output in legal contexts to create screening tools that can be adapted to specific languages and contexts within participating countries.
WORKING GROUP 3: Inventory of language abilities tests
WG3 will compile a comprehensive inventory of existing language assessment tools relevant to adolescent populations involved in justice processes. By identifying the tools and circumstances of their usage, the group seeks to enhance understanding of language assessment practices and their applicability in diverse settings and professional contexts. WG3 will focus on developing practical resources and recommendations for assessing language needs in youth justice settings. By compiling an inventory of tools and providing guidelines, as well as creating a policy brief for stakeholders, the group aims to improve language assessment practices and advocate for the integration of language considerations in youth justice procedures.
WORKING GROUP 4: Epidemiology
WG4 aims to provide valuable insights into the demographics and characteristics of children and adolescents in contact with the law in different countries. By examining factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, social background, and language needs, the group seeks to inform policies and practices related to youth justice services and improve outcomes for vulnerable young people involved in the justice system.
WORKING GROUP 5: Legal frameworks for the youth justice system
WG5 will identify existing regulations and adherence to EU and international guidelines for child-friendly justice, ensuring that children and young people can effectively participate in legal processes. It will focus on reviewing existing rules related to language support, such as language screenings, the involvement of intermediaries, speech and language therapists, or interpreters. A survey will compare these regulations across different countries. The findings from this survey will help WG6 to shape policies at an international level and to design training programs for professionals. These programs will help professionals recognize and address language difficulties in children and adolescents involved in legal cases, and provide the right communication support
WORKING GROUP 6: Training and dissemination
WG6 will develop and organise training required for the members of the Action, workshops for stakeholders in the youth justice system, and specific training schools for the academic and professional development of early career researchers. It will communicate and disseminate results of the network to the general public, the scientific community and translate the findings of the research network into resources to be used by societal stakeholders and policy makers.
