Children First, Offenders Second (CFOS) is a progressive and positive youth justice model that consists of eight principles. The model is structured to make a child the focus of any responses that are made, in view of their offending behavior.
Principles Child-friendly and child-appropriate treatment Diversionary action - not punishment, justice, or welfare-based Prevention as inclusive Evidence-based partnership Kindness - not labels or stigma Systems management - not unprincipled net-widening Partnership with the state Placing responsibility with the adult and not the child
"Children First, Offenders Second", also known as "positive youth justice", challenges what its authors view as outdated, punitive, stigmatizing and unethical models of youth justice. It focuses on the use of risk factor paradigms in risk-based youth justice.
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