Summary
When a minor becomes involved in the justice system whether as a suspect or accused of a crime, or as part of a civil or administrative proceeding they enter a new world that often feels intimidating. This system operates with its own logic, pace, and language, far removed from the young person’s reality and usual environments. Such a context often generates feelings of confusion and, at times, alienation, which can undermine the educational and rehabilitative goals the process is meant to achieve.
Many young people perceive the juvenile justice system as one that does not recognize their needs, does not uphold their rights of which they are often unaware and does not aim for true and complete rehabilitation. As a result, they experience the justice process purely as a form of punishment for what they have done, which nullifies the core value of the proceedings and the new opportunities they are meant to offer. This perception can negatively impact their well-being, self-esteem, relationships with professionals, sense of procedural fairness, and their ability to participate in, understand, and accept the outcomes and measures put in place.
Many adolescents especially those from marginalized or "difficult" backgrounds, which often lead them into contact with the criminal justice system feel they have little space or opportunity to express their thoughts, opinions, and perspectives. At the same time, professionals working in the juvenile justice system often find it difficult to communicate effectively with them and to engage with a world that has its own language, norms, and values.
To address these challenges, it is essential to promote youth-friendly communication from justice system actors and to uphold minors’ right to participate in their own proceedings, through improved information and understanding.
RapLab aims to bring the justice system closer to the young people who come into contact with it, using languages and approaches that immediately engage them, activating their resources and capabilities. The methodology developed which includes autobiographical storytelling, reflection on their personal journey and the justice system, writing about their experiences, sharing technical skills, singing, and recording life fragments and rap verses promotes the concept of child-friendly justice, as outlined by the Council of Europe Guidelines and international standards. The experience of Defence for Children International Italia, gained over years of work in both national and European contexts, has made it possible to design, test, and refine a rights-based methodology that seeks to foster the direct participation of young people who are often given little space for voice, expression, or influence.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Justice’s juvenile services (USSM Genoa and IPM Pontremoli), boys and girls will participate in narrative-musical workshops led by the association’s educational staff, including a professional rapper. In Genoa, workshops will take place at Defence for Children Italia’s headquarters in Piazza Don Gallo, while in Pontremoli they will be held in spaces provided by the Juvenile Penal Institute. At the same time, a mobile recording studio will be set up, allowing for movement between Genoa and Pontremoli to record the songs developed during the sessions. The goal is to provide all participants including those with less artistic confidence a space to share their voices through their musical creations. These are young people who often have very few opportunities to engage in experiences of this kind, and, more broadly, limited chances to express themselves and be heard.
