Searching for Teachable Moments at the Intersection of Youth Violence, Criminal Justice and Public Health

Teachable moment methodologies are becoming increasingly popular at the nexus of youth violence, criminal justice and public health in England and Wales. Partnerships involving the Home Office, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), public health specialists and criminal justice charities have funded interventions classed as or closely associated with ‘teachable moments’, including in hospital A&Es and police stations. Yet, there appears to be no substantial scientific evidence to prove reproducibility or the consistent effects of different methodological approaches on reducing rates of violence. There are good reasons to doubt claims that teachable moments can be fully realised and exploited through one-shot ‘right message - right messenger - right time’ interventions. This article encourages more fulsome academic debate of teachable moments at the nexus of youth violence, criminal justice and public health, and the associated coalescence of policy, funding and beliefs.