Relational security: conceptualization and operationalization in small-scale, strengths-based, community-embedded youth justice facilities

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Research

Lieke van Domburgh¹  Fleur Souverein¹  Arne Popma¹  Eva Mulder² 

[1] Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care department Amsterdam UMC, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Academische Werkplaats Risicojeugd, Postbus 53, 6500 AB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Child and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care department Amsterdam UMC, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;Academische Werkplaats Risicojeugd, Postbus 53, 6500 AB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Child development and education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;LUMC Curium – Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands;

关键词: Prison;    Dynamic security;    Institutional violence;    Youth development;    Youth justice;    Forensic youth care;    Justice-involved young people;    Relational security;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13034-023-00638-3

 received in 2023-03-22, accepted in 2023-07-04,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundGiven the developmental vulnerability of justice-involved youth, providing a safe environment in secure facilities is a paramount, yet challenging task. Within this complexity, a sound security framework is key. The security framework exists on three dimensions: physical, procedural and relational security. Existing knowledge points at the importance of a shift in focus on physical and procedural security towards relational security as the core of the security framework. At the same time there is a dearth of knowledge on relational security, particularly in the context of youth justice. This paper explores relational security and its working mechanisms in practice.MethodsThis paper draws on findings of a comprehensive three-year evaluation of three small-scale, community-embedded facilities that are grounded in relational security. The approach of the evaluation was derived from action research, involving a cyclic process alternating between action, research and critical reflection, while engaging all stakeholders in the research process. The action research cycle involved qualitative research (a total of 63 semi-structured interviews) incorporating the perspective of staff, youth and parents.ResultsRelational security is grounded in three distinct, but interrelated, elements – staff’s basic attitude, a constructive alliance between staff and youth, staff presence – and promotes a safe and therapeutic environment through several mechanisms.ConclusionsRelational security can be defined in a practical conceptualization; outlining a way of working that guides staff in how to establish a safe and therapeutic environment in secure facilities. This conceptualization finds support in the well-established literature covering the therapeutic alliance and can be substantiated by two aligning theories concerning youth justice strategies: social-ecological theory and self-determination theory. Relational security is not only a way of working, but also a way of being. It encompasses a vision about security and mentality towards justice-involved youth that sees them not merely as ‘risks to be managed’, but primarly as ‘resources to be developed’.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023