The historical and theoretical foundations of youth justice policy formation comprise a complex of competing, sometimes contradictory, conceptual thematics: welfare, justice, informalism, rights, responsibilities, retribution, and punishment. This book has attempted to present both a critical anatomy of contemporary policy and a vision of a principled youth justice. It has argued that opportunistic political calculations have displaced integrity and rationality in the formulation of youth justice policy in England and Wales. This has caused serious inconsistencies and breaks within the broader corpus of child/youth policy. It has negated evidence; it has distanced youth justice policy from the provisions of international human rights standards, treaties, conventions and rules. It has defined England and Wales as one of the most punitive jurisdictions in the industrialized democratic world. This chapter in particular, as well as the book itself, has aimed to intervene critically. It reflects upon the contested and dynamic nature of youth justice and argues that, in the final analysis, youth justice systems are relative constructs subject to the varying impulses of policymakers and the means by which the power to define is exercised and applied. It examines the complexities, contradictions, and controversies that characterize contemporary youth justice policy. By synthesizing the human rights framework, progressive elements from international youth justice and evidence drawn from research and practice, it has identified a set of principles that might inform future thinking. References