Child Arrest

The child arrest research group is studying the criminological, victimological and psycho-social aspects related to child arrest in Occupied East Jerusalem. The qualitative and quantitative data for the group's studies includes police arrest records, analysis of court verdicts, protocols of Knesset discussions concerning child rights and children's access to justice, and reports published by the government, human rights organizations and both the Israeli and Palestinian Media. Moreover, over the past five years we have also conducted round table discussions; in-depth interviews with children and their families as well as professionals (e.g. public prosecution, public defense lawyers, professionals working for local and international NGOs, welfare and law enforcement professionals). In addition to being the only academic group that thoroughly studies all aspects related to children's access to justice in Occupied East Jerusalem, we are also involved in activism to promote children's rights. These include court watch visits, round table discussions, and participation in relevant Knesset discussions.

Research Team: Prof. Nadera Shalhoub Kevorkian, Dr. Bella Kovner, Ms. Shahrazad Odeh, Ms. Abeer Otman

For more information: bella.kovner@mail.huji.ac.il

Publications:
Bella Kovner and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian (2016). Children’s Rights, State Criminality and Settler Colonialism: Violence and Child Arrest in Occupied East Jerusalem, State Crime Journal 5(1): 109-138. DOI: 10.13169/statecrime.5.1.0109.

Bella Kovner and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian (2017). Child Arrest, Settler Colonialism, and the Israeli Juvenile System: A Case Study of Occupied East Jerusalem. The British Journal of Criminology. DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azx059.

Bella Kovner and Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian (2017). Children, Human Rights Organizations, and the Law under Occupation: The Case of Palestinian Children in East Jerusalem. The International Journal of Human Rights. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2017.1397635