Research into kids in care resulting in ground-breaking book

An extensive research project into the criminalisation of children in out-of-home care has led to several publications that will aid decision-makers navigating the challenges of policy and lawmaking in this delicate area.

Since 2014, co-investigators Dr Emma Colvin, Professor Alison Gerard, Associate Professor Andrew McGrath, and Annette Gainsford have published a research report to government, and four peer-reviewed publications. They have received a $50,000 research grant from the Australian Institute of Criminology, and have a forthcoming book to be published by Routledge.

The researchers have conducted more than 50 interviews with relevant stakeholders, observed more than 150 hours of court proceedings, and conducted around 100 file reviews. The research findings explore the role of the residential care environment in increasing the likelihood of criminalisation, especially when care providers use the police to manage day-to-day problematic behaviour.

In 2021, a book chapter authored by Dr Colvin, Professor Gerard and Associate Professor McGrath drew on the research on pathways into criminalisation for those with care experience to highlight how the criminalisation occurs, with particular emphasis on issues related to bail, homelessness, and the importance of training for those interacting with care-experienced people in the correctional system.