Understanding & Challenging Adultification

Understanding & Challenging Adultification

Adultification is a harmful bias where certain children—especially Black and Mixed-heritage children—are seen as older, less innocent, and more responsible than their peers. This leads to reduced care and protection, and increased criticism or criminalisation. It can affect boys, who are often viewed as threatening, and girls, who are hypersexualised. Understanding and challenging adultification is essential for fair and compassionate youth justice practice.

This small-group, interactive online session encourages peer learning and reflection—helping practitioners develop strategies to challenge adultification bias and strengthen a safeguarding approach.

What the workshop will cover:

• Understand the key research and findings on adultification and its impact on children in the justice system.
• Develop the skills to identify adultification in your own practice and integrate effective, child-centered approaches.

Cost £120 | £60 YJLC Members

Youth Justice Legal Centre (YJLC) is the centre of excellence on youth justice law in England and Wales. Our legal guides are endorsed by The Law Society of England and Wales and funded in part by the Ministry of Justice

You can learn more about becoming a YJLC member individually or for your organization here.