Overcoming 'Sheriff Syndrome’: Exploring young adults’ experiences of policing in Northern Ireland

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Abstract

This article delves into the pivotal role that police encounters play in shaping the experiences of 18-25-year-olds who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The study is anchored in an analysis of in-depth narrative interviews with young adults, predominantly young men, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Their accounts unveil the latent risks of police approaches that may pivot on the 'age and/or lack of maturity’ of young adults. Introducing the concept of ’sheriff syndrome’, the research sheds light on the detrimental effects of entrenched, antecedent expectations regarding the behaviours, attitudes and (in)capacity for change of those over the age of 18. Participants’ accounts underscore the need for interactions that recognise and protect subjective elements of maturity, while cultivating opportunities for open, respectful, and bidirectional communication between suspect populations of young adults and the police.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)248-270
Number of pages23
JournalYouth Justice
Volume24
Issue number2
Early online date2 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 2 Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The author disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship and/or publication of this article: The article is based on research supported by the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy between 2011 and 2014.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.

Keywords

  • young adulthood
  • policing
  • Maturity
  • liminality
  • transition
  • maturity

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