In this episode, we look at youth crime and how best to respond to this hot topic of talkback radio around the nation. Often, this discussion is accompanied by calls for tougher penalties for young criminals by politicians and the public alike. However, leading criminologist and behavioural scientist Professor Ross Homel has made it his life’s work to show there is a more effective response by looking at the underlying causes of crime. His award-winning research on the Pathways to Prevention projects show that keeping children out of detention centres is crucial for a better future for all of society.