Kylie Gill presents at North South Criminology Conference

Kylie Gill (SLSS Hub, University of Limerick) presented ‘’Crossing Borders: A Comparative Study of Leaving Care Policies in Ireland and Northern Ireland ’ at the North South Criminology Conference this week in Maynooth University.  The Conference in its 16th year hosts academic sessions on many aspects of criminology, including Pathways to Offending for Young People, Community Safety, Crime and Security, Young Adulthood and the Justice System and many more.

Kylie’s presentation looked at the following:

This study provides a comparative analysis of leaving care policies in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Using a combination of document and comparative policy analysis, the research examines legislative frameworks, government reports and academic literature to assess how policy can influence care leavers’ access to support, and the support provided. Informed by a rapid literature review, data was coded to a framework including eligibility criteria for accessing support, assessment of needs, pathway planning, aftercare support and the duration of aftercare support. The findings explore how policies in Ireland and Northern Ireland are intended to be implemented and the level of support they propose for care leavers, while the findings provide insights into how these policies are applied in practice. By examining the similarities and differences between these jurisdictions, the research aims to contribute to discussions on what can improve aftercare services and make policies more effective in supporting young people’s transition to adulthood.