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Young Cambodians as Victims of Institutional Violence in the Criminal Justice System

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Abstract

Young Cambodians are often the victims of human rights abuses due to their interactions with the criminal justice system. This paper is based on the outcomes of a 6-month research project which gained the perceptions of young male Cambodians who reported that violence within the criminal justice system is normalised and perpetrated by police and prison authorities. The research documented the physical and psychological effects of institutional violence encountered by young people such as problems in reintegrating back to their families and communities. The paper concludes with a number of suggestions regarding the introduction of a juvenile justice system, increased training of police and the introduction of human rights as part of the national school curriculum.

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Correspondence to Glenn Dawes.

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Glenn Dawes is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. He has expertise in young people and crime and has conducted research on how Indigenous youth experience the process of reintegration when they return to their communities post-detention. He has also conducted research into young people and driving culture, graffiti art and educational disadvantage.

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Dawes, G. Young Cambodians as Victims of Institutional Violence in the Criminal Justice System. Asian Criminology 11, 33–46 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11417-015-9219-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11417-015-9219-9

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