Relational security: Balancing care and control in a youth justice detention setting in Australia

Constructive relationships between staff and young people in youth justice detention are a vital component of a therapeutic youth justice approach, which extends to the maintenance of a safe environment (i.e. relational security). However, there is a dearth of research on relational security and how it can be implemented and operationalized in conventional youth justice settings. Our aim was to understand custodial officers’ views on, and approaches to, establishing a relational approach with young people, while maintaining safety and security. Participants and Setting We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 staff at a youth justice detention facility in Victoria, Australia. Thematic analysis using a framework analysis approach. Four main themes were derived: Staff roles, maintaining a safe environment, establishing a constructive relationship, and staffing challenges. These findings shed light on how relational security principles can provide a way to balance the care and support of young people with a need for safety and security in a conventional youth justice detention setting in Australia, as well as challenges of current procedures and arrangements. We argue that a relational security approach should inform staff recruitment, training, support, and management strategies, as well as decisions about the design and use of space in youth justice detention settings.