Responding to Cyberbullying: The Case for Family Conferencing

21 Pages Posted: 3 Dec 2015 Last revised: 19 Feb 2016

See all articles by Colette Langos

Colette Langos

University of Adelaide - School of Law

Rick T Sarre

University of South Australia - School of Law

Date Written: 2015

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a form of anti-social conduct which is best understood as an online social relationship problem. Because of our growing understanding of the phenomenon, we can now see that any socio-legal response should envisage, therefore, a relationship solution. This article considers how one diversionary criminal justice process is particularly well suited to responding to incidents of cyberbullying where juveniles are involved yet which are deemed to be sufficiently serious to attract a potential criminal penalty. It explores, specifically, the option of family conferences (facilitated by youth justice co-ordinators) within the South Australian youth court framework. It concludes that both young cyberbullies and young victims of cyberbullying may benefit from alternatives to a retributive justice process, given that the primary focus of family conferencing is the repair of harm and the restoration of relationships.

Keywords: cyberbulling, justice, socio-legal, criminal justice

Suggested Citation

Langos, Colette and Sarre, Rick T, Responding to Cyberbullying: The Case for Family Conferencing (2015). Deakin Law Review, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2015, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2697923

Colette Langos

University of Adelaide - School of Law ( email )

Ligertwood Building
Adelaide 5005, South Australia SA 5005
Australia

Rick T Sarre (Contact Author)

University of South Australia - School of Law ( email )

GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Australia
83020889 (Phone)
83027128 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/Homepage.asp?Name=Rick.Sarre

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