The UK Government’s White Paper ‘No More Excuses’ (Home Office, 1997) set out plans for changing the culture of the Youth Court. This article focuses on one crucial aspect of the reform plans: the idea that magistrates need to engage with young offenders and their families. After a theoretical analysis of the foundation and justification for a special youth court, the article presents some findings concerning differences between the communication cultures of English/Welsh and Dutch Youth Courts. The article concludes by questioning the basic assumption of the White Paper, that fundamental changes could be realised without structural reform.
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