The lasting impact of the pandemic on children and Child-first practice within a youth justice service

The pandemic shifted operational delivery across criminal justice services with greater use of remote delivery impacting upon relational practice. This research explored the lasting impact of the pandemic upon working practices, five years later, in a North-West youth justice service. The findings explore post-pandemic engagement within the youth justice service and reveal the lasting impacts of the pandemic in exacerbating vulnerability and mental health concerns of children.