Michelle McLean

Thesis Title: Parenting Young Offenders: An investigation into the impact on parents when their child offends

The impact of a child’s offending on their parents has received limited attention in academic and professional literature. In England and Wales, government guidance to youth justice practitioners emphasises assessing a child’s needs within the context of their family, yet it offers parents little beyond signposting to services. Statutory frameworks often assume that the parents of children who offend have failed to take responsibility, and that this can be compelled. While parenting is inherently challenging, those most affected are frequently accused of inadequate parenting, with such perceptions framed as the root cause of youth offending. These accusations can generate shame and stigma, which parents manage through strategies of identity negotiation. This project investigates the narratives that the parents of young offenders construct about themselves, as well as the societal narratives imposed upon them. Through the use of creative writing as both a method and a mode of representation, the study explores how parents’ self-reported experiences support or challenge prevailing assumptions about parental responsibility for youth crime and what the implications are. As part of this project, a script for a piece of verbatim theatre will be produced to conceptualise the findings. This form has been chosen for its capacity to amplify the voices of a marginalised group.

Biography:

Michelle is a writer, researcher and public sector change professional with a passion for impactful storytelling, social justice, and making positive change that sticks. She is currently a PGR at the University of Birmingham, funded by an ESRC DTP Studentship. Her research uses creative writing to interrogate and represent the experiences of parents whose children are in trouble with the law. This work is grounded in 15+ years of voluntary experience within the criminal justice system. Michelle holds an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing and designs and delivers creative writing workshops and community storytelling projects that help people explore their stories and agency. In parallel, she's built a career in change and project management, specialising in supporting Local Authorities and public sector organisations to translate strategy into meaningful outcomes.

Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology

University of Birmingham

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Supervisory Team:

Professor Nicola Gale

Professor Ruth Gilligan

Dr Laura Kelly