Working With At-Risk Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People in Australia: Risk Factors, Programming, and Service Delivery

• DOI: 10.1177/0887403420929416
• Published date: 01 June 2021
• Date: 01 June 2021
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403420929416

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2021, Vol. 32(5) 469 –483

© The Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/0887403420929416

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Article

Working With At-Risk

Culturally and Linguistically

Diverse Young People in

Australia: Risk Factors,

Programming, and Service

Delivery

Stephane M. Shepherd1 and Godwin Masuka2

Abstract

Young people from particular culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds

are overrepresented in Australia’s criminal justice system. Many possess the typical

risk profiles of justice-involved young people. However, there are unique sociocultural

factors that may affect a CALD young person’s ongoing contact, and interactions

with the justice system. There exists little published research on these factors, and

how service providers can best address the needs of justice-involved CALD young

people. This article endeavored to fill this gap in our knowledge and advance policy

development in this critical space. First, a number of key environmental and pre/post

migratory stressors were identified that may be implicated in pathways to offending.

Second, despite regular calls for culturally responsive programming, few programs

have been developed, and no evaluations of such programs were detected in the

extant literature. Third, several programming recommendations were articulated

based on available expertise. One approach included building the capacities of

culture-based community service providers to strengthen their ability to work with

justice-involved CALD youth.

1Swinburne University of Technology, Alphington, Victoria, Australia

2Public Service Officer & Community Advocate, Williams Landing, Victoria, Australia

Corresponding Author:

Stephane M. Shepherd, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology,

1/582 Heidelberg Rd., Alphington, Victoria 3078, Australia.

Email: sshepherd@swin.edu.au

929416CJPXXX10.1177/0887403420929416Criminal Justice Policy ReviewShepherd and Masuka

research-article2020